Starter quiz
- Select linguistic features appropriate for a narrative opening from the list:
- subheading
- adverbial detail ✓
- facts and statistics
- precise vocabulary choices ✓
- a range of sentence types ✓
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- Select the adjectives most suitable to describe a dragon in this scene.
- adorable
- ferocious ✓
- naughty
- deadly ✓
- bloodthirsty ✓
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- Identify the purpose of the opening.
- explain a problem in detail
- engage the reader ✓
- include quotes from eyewitnesses
- introduce characters ✓
- introduce the plot ✓
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- Select the definition of a paragraph:
- a word that describes a noun
- a sentence punctuated with a capital letter and a full stop
- a group of sentences that is indicated by a new line and an indentation ✓
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- A complex sentence is formed of a main clause and any type of...
- main clause
- co-ordinating conjunction
- subordinate clause ✓
- adverbial phrase
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- Identify the non-finite complex sentence from the list:
- Dragons circled the island silently.
- Brandishing the axe above his head, Hiccup was desperate to help. ✓
- The villagers fought bravely, but they were no match for the ferocious beasts.
- As the dragons began their descent, the villagers woke from their slumber.
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Exit quiz
- Match the keywords to their definitions:
- atmosphere⇔the mood created in a section or the whole of a text ✓
- linguistic features⇔structures of language that use words ✓
- complex sentence⇔a sentence formed of a main clause and any type of subordinate clause ✓
- Order the plot events of the opening section.
- 1⇔dragons approach the Isle of Berk
- 2⇔dragons attack the Isle of Berk and the sheep
- 3⇔villagers fight back
- 4⇔Hiccup is introduced
- Match the sentence types to their examples.
- simple⇔Hiccup reached for a weapon. ✓
- compound⇔The air was filled with smoke and villagers screamed in rage. ✓
- adverbial complex⇔As the dragons roared, flames erupted from their throats. ✓
- relative complex⇔Hiccup grabbed the first weapon he saw, which was a heavy crossbow. ✓
- non-finite complex⇔Breathing fire, the dragons had bloodthirsty eyes on the villagers. ✓
- Identify the subordinating conjunction in this sentence: Chaos erupted whilst the ferocious beasts preyed on the villagers’ livestock.
- chaos
- erupted
- whilst ✓
- ferocious
- beasts
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- Identifying the progressive verb in this non-finite complex sentence: Brave villagers fought the huge demons with all their might, howling in fury.
- brave
- villagers
- fought
- howling ✓
- fury
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- Identify the relative pronoun in this relative complex sentence: With enraged roars, flames erupted from the dragons’ mouths, which engulfed homes in fiery destruction.
- with
- erupted
- which ✓
- engulfed
- fiery
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Worksheet
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Presentation
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- The purpose of the opening is to engage the reader and introduce characters and plot.
- Using a range of linguistic features helps achieve the text's purpose.
- We have learned about three types of complex sentence: adverbial, relative and non-finite.
- Using a range of sentence types in narrative writing enhances text cohesion and keeps the reader engaged.
- Powerful, precise vocabulary choices engage the reader and help create atmosphere.
Common misconception
Pupils may not have a clear understanding of sentence types.
This is explicitly taught in Learning Cycle 1 and pupils are tasked with finding each type of complex sentence in a model opening.
Keywords
Atmosphere - the mood created in a section or the whole of a text
Linguistic features - structures of language that use words
Complex sentence - a sentence composed of a main clause and any type of subordinate clause
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