Persuasive Letter is . . .

or a small group

School Principal

Business Manager

Mayor

State SenatorSBDM

City Counsel

Company Board of Directors

Written to one person

Audience –

Mayor – ‘Expand the Extreme Park to include a concession stand”

Kodak – “Clearer requirements for film developing process”

Topics for a persuasive letter Something the reader needs to doWhy we need to have

Audience –

Principal – “Why we need to have a dress code”

SBDM – “Eastern should adopt a plastic bottle recycling project”

Block format

8 parts1. Return address and date

2. Inside Address

3. Salutation

4. Statement

5. Reason and Evidence

6. Conclusion

7. Complementary Close

8. Autograph and typed name

•All left margin•Fewer keystrokes•Standard business format

1. Return address and date

No writer’s name necessary– It is after the complementary close

Generally starts on the first line of the document

2. Inside Address

Full name and address of person or group to whom you are writing

•4 to 10 spaces from return address and date

•Extra spaces can be taken out or added according to length of letter

3. Salutation

2 spaces below Inside Address End in a colon

4. S2 spaces below Salutation

Your purpose for writing the letter Tell them what you are going to tell

them

tatement

4. S

Focus of the letter

tatement

5. R Eeason and vidence At least two separate Reason

and Evidence paragraphs

– but you may have more than two

Personal opinions and religious beliefs should not be used in a persuasive letter

1

2

5. Reason and Evidence

Must use facts Document facts by

citing sources2 spaces

Example - “According to an Associated Press article found in the Courier-Journal May 14, 2002, . . .:

6. Conclusion

Restates your facts in a much shorter form Tell them what you told them

2 spaces below Reason and Evidence

7. Complementary Close

Sincerely is standard Must end in a comma

8. Autograph and typed Name Type full name 4 spaces below

Complementary Close Autograph is required to make it a legal

document

4 spaces below Complementary Close

Block format

8 parts1. Return address and date

2. Inside Address

3. Salutation

4. Statement

5. Reason and Evidence

6. Conclusion

7. Complementary Close

8. Autograph and typed name

•All left margin•Fewer keystrokes•Standard business format

Other important details:

Organization

Statement Paragraph

Supporting reasons stated

Statement of purpose

Other important details:

Language

Appropriate for content, purpose and audience

Language reinforces statement of purposePatriotic language appeals to audience

Other important details:

Sentences

Paragraph demonstrates

Variety of sentence length

Variety of sentence structure

Transition and interrupterMoves from one idea to anotherAdds additional informationThe sentence would work without it

Complex and simple sentences usedTwo clauses in the sentenceUses comma to divide the clausesSubject / verb only and short

Sentence length should vary

A proper persuasive letter should include

• Statement, Reasons and Evidence throughout

• Proper format• Target audience• First paragraph introduces

focus and ideas• Uses a variety of sentences• Language supports focus

and appeals to the audience