Writing to persuade 3-11-2009: text source sheet for tasks1

Task 2 – “You are here.”

Crisis believes passionately that vulnerable people need help to rebuild their lives and fulfil their potential if they are to leave homelessness behind for good. The Christmas meal, companionship and comfort are just for starters. We know that many of the people we help have suffered years of abuse, trauma and unhappiness. It takes time to turn a life around. Help us start the process for someone this Christmas.

Task 3 – “I’m a verb, get me out of here.”

Hidden homeless people live in hostels, squats, bed and breakfasts or sleep on friends’ floors. They often lead miserable, isolated lives and suffer from debilitating mental and physical health problems.

Task 4 – “Don’t accentuate the negative.”

A. These people do not show up in government statistics and are not a priority for social housing.

B. They may have been the victim of domestic violence, been through a divorce, been made redundant or suffered ill-health.

C. They [the volunteers] have given up their Christmas to spend time with us and if anyone can do that it’s a blessing. They didn’t have to do it, but they did it.

Task 5 – “It looks better back to front.”

Invert, and if necessary combine, the following sentences using the prompts:

A. 1 in 3 homeless people spend Christmas alone. Loneliness erodes self esteem and makes people become introverted and unhappy. Not only does a Christmas alone ...

B. We urgently need to raise £410,000 to cover the costs of running the centres before they open. The Crisis Christmas menu saves and rebuilds lives. Only with your ...

C. Last year a record 2000 people settled down to Christmas dinner at Crisis Christmas. Never had so many people ...

Now come up with two of your own, using these ‘inverted fronts’:

Hardly have we ... (about finishing one Christmas and starting the next immediately)

Nowhere else can ... (about how the homeless can get two types of medical help on the same day)

Task 6 – “Say it in 30 words.”

Crisis Christmas Menu

As well as people sleeping on the streets, Crisis estimates there are tens of thousands of hidden homeless people living in [the] UK today. These people do not show up in government statistics and are not a priority for social housing.

You do not have to use the exact information above but your 30 words should include examples of: use of you, strong verbs, an inverted sentence and avoidance of negative language. Try to extend the menu metaphor.

1 Most text sourced in Crisis Christmas leaflet circulated with The Observer, 1

st November 2009