Starter quiz
- Starting with the first plot point, order the opening sequence from 'Propping Up The Line' in chronological order.
- 1⇔Alfred feels something brush against him.
- 2⇔Alfred realises the something is a rat.
- 3⇔The rat touches a bit of Alfred's bare skin.
- 4⇔Alfred sees the rat scuttle away.
- 5⇔Alfred reflects on all the horror he has seen in the trenches.
- 6⇔Alfred kills the rat.
- What punctuation is missing from this sentence? "The mud stank John trudged on, unaware of anything but the burning in his chest."
- a comma
- a full stop ✓
- a question mark
- an exclamation mark
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- What punctuation is missing from this sentence? "The trenches were a black hole: no warmth food or hope. "
- commas ✓
- full stops
- question marks
- exclamation marks
- semi colons
-
- What punctuation is missing from this sentence? "'Catch' yelled Peter, throwing the ball at John in the anticipation he might be up for a game."
- a full stop
- a comma
- a question mark
- an exclamation mark ✓
- a semi colon
-
- What punctuation is missing from this sentence? "How could Frank hope to face his family again How could he hope to play with them or tickle them".
- full stops
- commas
- question marks ✓
- exclamation marks
- semi colons
-
- One of Wilfred Owen's most famous poems is about a gas attack. The speaker sees a man dying in front of him and says that he now sees this death "In all my ______ before my helpless sight".
- 'dreams' ✓
Exit quiz
- Match each word to its definition.
- rhythm⇔the beat, flow, or pattern of a piece of music or writing ✓
- punctuation⇔the marks we use to separate sentences, or parts of sentences ✓
- full stop⇔comes at the end of a sentence to signal the end of an idea ✓
- comma⇔used to create a pause in a sentence, often in a list ✓
- comma splice⇔when you use a comma instead of using a full stop ✓
- A pupil seeks advice about how to create rhythm in their creative writing about a soldier in WW1. What would be the most specific and helpful advice you could offer them?
- You can create rhythm through similes and metaphors.
- You can create rhythm through precise punctuation. ✓
- You can create rhythm through powerful and unusual word choice.
- You can create rhythm through varied sentence lengths. ✓
- You can create rhythm through stanzas and verses.
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- Which of these sentences uses full stops accurately?
- John was exhausted, he wanted to go back home to his family, and his tools.
- John was exhausted. He wanted to go back home to his family, and his tools
- John was exhausted? He wanted to go back home to his family, and his tools.
- John was exhausted. He wanted to go back home to his family, and his tools. ✓
- John was exhausted he wanted to go back home to his family and his tools.
-
- Which of these sentences uses commas correctly?
- Whenever, he went to sleep John saw Peter's smiling, hopeful, youthful face.
- Whenever he went to sleep John saw Peter's smiling, hopeful, youthful face.
- Whenever he went to sleep, John saw Peter's smiling hopeful youthful face.
- Whenever he went to sleep John saw Peter's smiling hopeful youthful face.
- Whenever he went to sleep, John saw Peter's smiling, hopeful, youthful face. ✓
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- These sentences were inspired by 'Propping Up The Line' by Ian Beck. Which of these sentences uses a comma splice and is therefore not an accurate sentence?
- John saw May on the coastline, Susie started to run towards him. ✓
- May, heartbroken, cared for John all his life.
- Whenever there were chores, John would help.s
- Kate never asked her father about his experiences, Susie always pestered him. ✓
- John gave up his job, gave up sport and gave up any hope for a healthy life.
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- Wilfred Owen was a poet and British soldier in WW1. In his poem about a gas attack, the first line of the second stanza reads, "______ Quick, boys!"
- 'Gas! GAS!' ✓
Worksheet
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Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Writers spend time crafting the rhythm of their writing, as well as the words.
- In writing, rhythm is created through sentence construction and punctuation.
- Rhythm creates energy, pace and tension.
- Rhythm can engage the reader, and draw their attention to certain things.
Common misconception
Commas and full stops are interchangeable.
Full stops divide independent clauses and create a longer pause than a comma. Full stops divide ideas and create clear writing. Commas divide subordinate clauses and lists. They create a shorter pause.
Keywords
Rhythm - the beat, flow, or pattern of a piece of music or writing
Punctuation - the marks we use to separate sentences, or parts of sentences; good punctuation creates clarity and rhythm
Full stop - a punctuation mark that comes at the end of a sentence; a very powerful piece of punctuation
Comma - a punctuation mark that is used to create a pause in a sentence, often in a list
Comma splice - when you use a comma to divide two independent ideas, but should have used a full stop instead of comma
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