Stage 1

Essential English
ADVOCACY TEXT
 ABOUT THE TASK
Students produce an advocacy text (800 words or 6
minute oral presentation) that is suitable for
publication on a social issue of personal choice:

●homelessness, marriage equality, or animal welfare ●proposal

for a rule change in a particular sport
●an improved process or procedure in a workplace ●provision
of a service or infrastructure in a local community
●action to encourage or prevent change within a community

Students are encouraged to use a form that suits their

purpose such as: letter, PhotoStory, Speech, or
PowerPoint, video.

LINK: TASK SHEET

WHAT IS
ADVOCACY? Advocacy is a crucial element in achieving
social justice. It is a way to ensure that
everyone matters and everyone is heard –
especially those who are at risk of
exclusion and those who have particular
difficulties in making their views known.
SPEECH- EMMA
WATSON LETTER- EXAMPLES OF
LINK: HE FOR SHE FUNDRAISING ADVOCACY
CAMPAIGN LINK: EXAMPLES
OF FUNDRAISING TEXTS
LETTERS

PETITION: VIDEO: SKATE

ANIMAL PARK
CRUELTY
LINK: SKATE PARK
LINK: EXAMPLE O CAMPAIGN
F PETITION
There’s never enough time… money… resources….
 DECIDE ON YOUR TOPIC
● Homelessness, marriage equality, animal welfare, period
poverty, etc
● Proposal for a rule change in a particular sport
● An improved process or procedure in a workplace/ school
● Provision of a service or infrastructure in a local Community
● Action to encourage or prevent change within a community
● Other…. Negotiate with teacher!
 Move the arrows to
match the FORM with
 How will you present your
text?
➢ News article/editorial
➢ Social media post with images
➢ Commercial for TV, web, or radio
➢ Video
➢ Open Letter
➢ Pamphlet/Infographic
➢ Letter to a representative or organisation
 PROJECT PROPOSAL
Please complete and send a copy to Mr Hocking via DayMap…

I will be creating an advocacy piece around the topic of ___________ .

The reason I chose this topic is____________. The aim/ purpose for
my piece is ________. My main audience is __________. The form that
my piece will take is ___________. I think this is the best choice
considering my audience because ______________.
 (if relevant)
Emphasising
humour
 E ●
● exaggeration
● expert opinion/ fact and statistics
emotive and powerful language (consider the adjectives, adverbs and verbs)

TECHNIQU
Include at least 10 of
● rhetorical questions (that do not require answers)
● shock tactics
● personal pronouns ( e.g. “we” includes audience, “they” suggests the

ES
these within your text.
Some will only apply
to certain forms/ text
opposition)
● inclusive and exclusive language
● anecdotes
types. ● humour
● imagery and figurative language such as metaphors and similes
Use your friend
● use of images
GOOGLE if you can’t
● body language/ tone
remember what any
● camera angles, shots and editing
of these are, or how to
● layout features that highlight or draw reader’s attention
use them.
● Emotive appeals making us feel, for example
-guilt (e.g. not being a good parent) -envy (e.g. of people with faster cars)
-charitable -caring for the environment
-family oriented -fashionable and beautiful/ -popular -fearful
-traditional / pride (e.g. in our country)
1,233,000
Facts, statistics and data will make your text more
credible, persuasive and effective…. Consider HOW
you can incorporate this (Secondary research…
{Google} OR primary research… surveys/ interviews
etc)
EMOTIVE
WORDS
Incorporating emotion into your text allows
the audience to deeply connect with your
idea.
● disgrace
● truly awful
● absolutely terrible
● innocent
A PICTURE
IS WORTH A
THOUSAND
WORDS
Use images to
get your
message
across.
POSSIBLE Ethos. These are appeals to the audience's ethics or
morals. For example: "Recycling is the right thing to do.
APPROACHES Wasting our limited resources steals from future
generations, which is immoral."
Pathos. These are appeals to the audience's
emotions. For example: "Think of the animals that lose
their homes every day because of trees being chopped
down. If we recycled more, we could save these beautiful
forests."
Logos. These are appeals to the audiences’ logic or
intellect. For example: "We know that there is a limited
supply of natural resources. We can make this supply last
longer by recycling.”
Kairos. Builds a sense of urgency for the cause. For
example, ‘Time is running out..’
 LANGUAGE FEATURES
Technique Definition/Example
Emotive Language that appeals to the heart (‘pulls at the heart strings’). Emotive language is word choice that is
Language used to evoke emotion. Emotive language could also be called emotional language.
‘the amount of plastic that is placed and found in the ocean is a disgrace. To think that people could be
so cruel to our environment and our animals is truly awful.
Personal Refer to yourself and others using pronouns: Personal pronouns make the text/writing seem as
language though it's directly addressing the reader. This makes it more emotive or relatable and therefore more
likely for the reader to respond.
‘I urge you..’ ‘We are suffering…..’ ‘Your lives are at risk’
Modality Modality refers to language that shows the level of certainty/possibility, obligation (something you have
to do) or necessity of something. A persuasive text requires a high level of modality.
‘You must be aware…’
‘I am calling for action..’
Rhetorical A rhetorical question is a question asked in order to create a dramatic effect or to make a point rather
Question than to get an answer. It is used to engage the audience.
‘How would you feel if…..?’
Subject So that the audience takes you seriously, you need to ensure you have done your research, know
Specific your topic well and use the appropriate language for the context. Subject specific language is language
Language relevant/specific to the topic.
 PLANNING
THE TEXT: 1. WHAT CAUSE ARE YOU GOING TO ADVOCATE FOR?

2. WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS CAUSE? DO SOME BACKGROUND

RESEARCH AND FILL IN A MINDMAP

3. WHO ARE YOU DIRECTING YOUR ADVOCACY TEXT TOWARDS? IN WHAT CONTEXT? i.e. a
presentation at school, a speech at the UN, a community seminar, a newsletter article etc.

4. WHAT ARE THE KEY REASONS WHY A PERSON LISTENING SHOULD SUPPORT THIS?

5. WHAT ARE THE KEY WAYS THAT A PERSON LISTENING COULD SUPPORT THIS ORGANISATION?

6. WHAT FACTS DO YOU HAVE THAT SHOW SUPPORT IS NEEDED?

7. WHAT STORIES CAN YOU TELL TO ENGAGE PEOPLE EMOTIONALLY?

8. WHAT DESCRIPTIVE WORDS CAN YOU USE TO DESCRIBE THE SITUATION ACCURATELY?
 Sample Letter – Generic
Your Name
Full Address
All contact information

Date

Recipient’s Name/Title
Full Address

Dear [Recipient’s name]:

First Paragraph:
Introduce yourself and tell who you are. State your reason for writing — what you want and why. (If the letter pertains to a specific bill or piece of
legislation, identify it in the letter.)
Second Paragraph:
Support the issue you are addressing with key statistics, compelling facts, and/or background information.
Third Paragraph:
Share your story to clarify your position.
Fourth Paragraph:
Summarise and reiterate your position/request. Identify other ways your recipient can help with the issue (e.g., attending school board meetings; hosting
town hall meetings.)
Fifth Paragraph:
Thank recipient for reading the letter and ask for a reply with his/her position on the issue and/or how he/she will address the issue.

Sincerely,
[Your name]
 Week 6 Lesson 1- Read through Google Slide and Task Sheet.
Watch examples. Write proposal.

STRUCTURE Week 6 Lesson 2- Begin research on topic, what information/

statistics/ facts are already available (don’t forget to reference)
AND TIMELINE and/ or create survey
FOR TASK Week 7 Lesson 1- Incorporate facts/ data/ education/ getting the
word out about why it’s important
Week 8 Lesson 1- Emphasise the support you’re requesting, ie
donations (if applicable), thanking audience for support, make
them the HERO!
Week 8 Lesson 2- Explain and celebrate what improvements it
will bring (consider community, individuals, nation etc)
Week 9 Lesson 1- Call to action/ urgent steps needed
Week 9 Lesson 2- Self and Peer Edit- Submit Draft
Week 10 Lesson 1- Refine work- Submit Final