Homework, 27th November, 2017

You recently read an article in a magazine which argued that school uniform should be scrapped in schools in the UK. 

Decide whether or not you agree with this point of view, then write a letter to the editor (the person in charge) of the magazine giving your view. Use the guidelines below to help you. 

It should be around 250 words long. 

Generic letter to the editor structure

Your address, e.g.: Mr Quillfeldt 12 Bishop’s Avenue London SW6 6EG

The date in long form, e.g.: 15th September, 2015

The address of the person you are writing to, e.g.: The Editor Education Today Magazine 567 Brooke Avenue Barnsley BR4 8YG

If you don’t know the name of the person you are writing to, start Dear Sir/Madam. If you do know the name of the person you are writing to, start Dear Mr if it is male, or Ms if it is a female.

In the first paragraph, explain why you are writing the letter, e.g.: I am writing to you to express my views on … Give the opposite view first: Some people believe that …

Then give your view: My own view on this topic is that …

Sum up everything you have said: For all of these reasons, I believe …

Sign off. If you know the name of the person you are writing to, use Yours sincerely. If you don’t know the name of the person, use Yours faithfully.

Write your name

Homework, 13th November, 2017

Read the letter from Nat's dad to Nat and answer the questions that go with it. 

This is due tomorrow (Tuesday, 14th November)

Dear Nat,

I hope you’re okay. I’m doing well … I mean, I know I’m in prison, but I’m doing as well as can be expected. The other lads in here are treating me well and, believe it or not, the food is not actually that bad. I’m sharing a room with a bloke called Rob. I haven’t asked him what he’s in for; to be honest, I’d rather not know, but whatever it is, he’s been nice to me, so whatever.

I’m sorry I couldn’t give you more information before those Secret Service goons turned up and whisked me away. I thought I had more time. Oh well, you’re smart, so I know you’ll figure out the trail. Just trust your instincts. I’m really sorry I’ve put you in this horrible position and, believe me, I wouldn’t ask you to do what you’re doing if it wasn’t really, really important, and I know it’s especially difficult as you have to sneak around the house without your mum and Hannah knowing what you’re up to, but it will all be worth it in the end, I promise.

Anyway, I have to go; it’s almost time for me to go back to my cell. I know this is all really difficult to deal with, but it will all be fine soon, I promise. Just keep following those clues, and soon we’ll be together again, kicking a football around in the garden just like old times.

Love,

Dad

Questions

1. What three things are missing from the top of the letter?

2. What word does Nat’s dad use to refer to the other men in the prison?

3. What do you think he wants us to think about his relationship with them by using this word?

4. Why do you think he would rather not know why Rob is in prison?

5. What word does he use to refer to the men from the Secret Service who arrested him?

6. What does the use of this word tell us about his attitude towards them?

7. What makes the position dad has put Nat in especially difficult?

8. Why does he have to go?

9. What, according to dad, will he and Nat soon be doing again?

Extension activity

Explain in around 100 words how we can tell that this is an informal letter. Make sure you copy specific parts of the text (although not more than one line at a time) to provide evidence.

Example: We can tell that this is an informal letter because Nat’s dad uses the informal greeting ‘Dear Nat’, as opposed to ‘Dear Sir/Madam’, which is more formal. 

Homework, 7th November, 2017

Read the letter below from Nat to his dad and answer the questions that follow. 

This is due tomorrow (Tuesday, 7th November)

13^th November, 2012

Dear Dad,

How are you? I mean, I know you’re in prison, so you’re obviously not doing that well, but are you as okay as you can be? Are they treating you well? What’s the food like?

I’ve been following Lily’s trail, but it’s hard trying to piece everything together. You didn’t give me enough information! I found some stuff in the loft: a picture of an eye, but I don’t get what it means. And I found some words scratched into a bucket, but I don’t understand what they mean either. I have a feeling the answers I need are at Bletchley Park, but I’ve no idea how I’m going to get in there. The security around that place must be water tight. If only you could give me more help, but I completely understand that you can’t.

Mum is doing okay … well, she acts like she is but I kind of get the sense that she’s just holding it together for me and Hannah. Hannah is still just being Hannah: moody, not saying much, spending a lot of time in her room.

I’ll keep trying dad, I will, I promise, and I also promise that I will find the evidence we need to prove your innocence and get you out of prison. I worry about you, but I know that if I stay positive we can do this.

Lots of love,

Nat

Questions

1. What is missing from the top of the letter?

2. Why is Nat’s dad obviously not doing very well?

3. Whose trail has Nat been following?

4. Why is it hard following this trail?

5. Where did he find some scratched words?

6. Why is it probably going to be difficult to get into Bletchley Park?

7. Based on what is written in the letter, what kind of person is Hannah?

8. What does Nat promise to keep doing?

9. What does he need to find to prove his dad’s innocence?

10. How does he sign the letter off?

Extension questions

11. How can we tell from the first paragraph that Nat is very worried about his dad?

12. How can we tell from the first few lines of the second paragraph that Nat might be slightly frustrated with his dad?

13. Why might it be difficult to tell if Hannah is really upset about the whole thing?