Letter Writing by Using

DA-FOREST Language
Technique
By Talat Riaz
Recap
When do we use apostrophes in English?

In the following text, find one example of:

1) A collective noun
2) A verb
3) A person pronoun
4) An adverb

"When I approached the herd, the lead mare reacted skittishly.

She clearly had had little contact with humans, and her instinct
told her to be cautious."
 Learning Intentions
• Introduction to DA-FOREST.
• Write a letter using the linguistic
devices in DA-FOREST.”
 Youtube Video

Writing_Formal_Letters
What’s in DA FOREST?
Direct address
Alliteration
Facts
Opinion
Rhetorical questions
Emotive language
Statistics
Triplet
 Direct Address
I felt that it was very inconsiderate of
you to be playing the drums, piano and
electric guitar so loudly.

Appealing directly to the reader or

listener and creating a sense of a
relationship to win trust.
 Alliteration

‘I am writing to complain about the

disquieting, disturbing and distressful
noise there was last night.

Alliteration stands out and grabs the

attention of the reader / listener.
 Facts
‘In fact, the chances of getting lung
cancer if you smoke is 40% higher
than if you do not smoke’
In fact, anti-social behaviour is punishable
crime under Anti-social Behaviour Act
2014.
They are concrete proof which supports
what you are saying
 Opinions
I think I am a reasonable person
and enjoy music myself.

Stating your opinion for the reader

makes it clear what your view is and
encourages them to agree
 Rhetorical Questions
Again, there wasn't any response, was
there?

Asking questions instinctively makes people

look for answers and engage
 Emotive language
Disgusting
Inconsiderate
horrible
unacceptable

Creates effect & drama!

 Statistics
A standard pack of cigarettes costs £20,
which if you smoke one a day adds up to
£140 per week or £1680 a year.
Neighbourly Behaviours which cause
complaints are:aggressive behaviour 60%,
noise pollution 53% and messy gardens and
property 19%.
Cannot be argued with – make everything more
persuasive as they sound like scientific proof
 Triplets / Repetition
‘Anti-social behaviour can cause
discomfort, shock and trauma.
‘We can, we will and we must stamp out
smoking.’
People remember things in threes – e.g.
Mars had ‘helps you work, rest and
play’
 Persuasive techniques
• These are the things that give your writing
a persuasive ‘edge’ – they show that you
are trying to persuade your audience and
make things very real for them.
• They are excellent ways to start your
letter, link paragraphs and end a letter.
 AUDIENCE – who you are aiming at –
different audiences will be looking for
different things e.g. ‘cool’ has a
different meaning to a young and mature
audience
FORM e.g. letter,

FAP
poster, leaflet,
newspaper article
Every form will
require different
features/language
conventions e.g. a PURPOSE - why you are
letter will need to be writing – are you
constructed complaining? Persuading?
differently to a Informing? Explaining?
leaflet
 Video/Citizens Advice
❖ https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/skillswise/planning-
your-writing/z46nqp3

❖ https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/resources-and
-tools/list_of_sample_letters/
 FAP in practice
Your task:

❖ Analyse the letter and highlight the language t

echniques
❖ Write a letter of complaint to the neighbour a
bout his anti-social behaviour by using some of
your examples of DA-FOREST
 Sample letter

What language devices has the writer used?

14 Rose Street
Leeds City College
LS20 3RG
20/03/2018

The Evening Post

Leeds City College
LS1 5BB

Dear Sir/Madam,
I read with disappointment your recent article regarding international travel. I believe that your negative stance misses the
point about the value of international travel.
As a regular traveller myself, I strongly disagree with your view that international travel is not worth the cost. The benefits
of international travel outweigh the expense incurred: it broadens the mind, adds to your life experience and increases you
understanding of the world around you. In addition to this, the benefits of tasting different food, hearing different
languages being spoken and experiencing a different way of life can only enrich your life. It is criminal to think
otherwise.The article claims that UK holidays are cheaper and provide similar benefits. If you are not put off by the
unpredictable and miserable weather we so often experience in the UK, then perhaps that is true. To me, however,
it is worth spending a fraction more to avoid wasting your holidays sheltering from the British rain. Try it.

Yours faithfully
Jane Smith
 Exit Ticket

What do these stand for?

D
A
F
O
R
E
S
T

PERSUASIVE TECHNIQUES