Writing to argue

3. Memorials

Required Resources

• Slides 11-30
• Student Worksheet 2-3
• Video: HRH Prince Charles and remembrance
• Video: Personal accounts of loss

Delivery

• Explain to students that they will be required to write to the 'Your letters' section of a local newspaper to 'argue' that a new war memorial is required in their local area. Use Slides 11-27 to introduce memorials. These present memorials in all their forms. Every image of a memorial is credited with a National Inventory War Memorial reference code so you can search their database for further information (if required): http://www.ukniwm.org.uk/server/show/nav.002
• Distribute Student Worksheet 2a-2b which sets their task and provides a planning framework. The students' letters must state that 'since the Second World War their local area has lost (killed in action) 150 people serving in the Armed Forces'. Acknowledge that is not a true statistic and has only been provided for the purpose of this exercise. However, you should acknowledge that the National Armed Forces Memorial is dedicated to the men and women of the United Kingdom Armed Forces who have died since the Second World War. Use Slides 28-29 to provide some background to this national memorial.
• Play the video which presents HRH Prince Charles talking about the Armed Forces Memorial and the importance of remembrance. Then play the video which provides some personal stories from people who have lost loved ones and who are now remembered on the Armed Forces Memorial. This should help to evoke some emotional arguments for the students' letter. Encourage them to make notes during the video for any anecdotes that they could use in their writing. There are a number of personal stories on the video and you may choose to only play a few.
• Now distribute Student Worksheet 3a-3b which provides information about memorials for them to extract details that can be incorporated into their own letter e.g. facts, figures, quotes etc.
• Finally, before students start to prepare their letter, as a class you should brainstorm specific local reasons why a memorial would be a valuable asset and a legacy to their community. Slide 30 may help to prompt ideas.
• You may revert back to the mark scheme requirements to help students ensure that their work piece is effectively structured using a wide variety of cohesive devices, convincing details, language techniques and a varied tone. They need to ensure that the reader is left thinking about the topic through the use of a powerful conclusion.

Differentiation

Lower Ability:

Ensure the students use the planning and writing frame. Before starting their written piece, mixed ability pairs could discuss any techniques or facts that could be applied to their own letter. Conduct a class brainstorm of local reasons why a memorial is likely to be required.

Higher Ability:

Student can be encouraged to produce their piece without the assistance of the writing frame. They should brainstorm local reasons independently.