Modality: Persuasive Devices

Overview:

This worksheet helps students understand the use of high modality words as a persuasive language device. Designed for students in the middle and upper years.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand what high modality words are and how they are used in persuasive writing.
• Use high modality words to strengthen persuasive sentences.
• Recognise how high modality words can influence the reader’s opinion.

How the Activity Works:

Students are given a topic, such as "Longer break times at school." They are tasked with writing persuasive sentences using high modality words, which are words that express certainty or strong opinions. For example, instead of saying, "Students might benefit from longer breaks," students can write, "Students must have longer breaks to improve their focus and well-being." High modality words like must, definitely, and certainly make the sentence sound more assertive and persuasive. This activity helps students practise how high modality words can enhance their persuasive writing and influence the reader's emotions or actions.