Starter quiz
- Which of the following is the best synonym for suspense?
- joy
- tension ✓
- clarity
- resolution
-
- Which of the following is a synonym for 'secret'?
- public
- hidden ✓
- obvious
- transparent
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- Which of the following is the best definition of the function of an adjective?
- to connect words, phrases or clauses
- to describe or modify a noun or pronoun ✓
- to show action or state of being
- to show an action or state of being
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- In the following sentence, which two words are adjectives: 'The old house creaked in the stormy wind.'?
- old ✓
- house
- creaked
- stormy ✓
- wind
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- What word beginning with 'A' describes a first person account of someone's life?
- 'autobiography' ✓
- Which of the following is the best description of a 'twist' in a story?
- a gradual buildup of background information
- an elaboration on the characters' motivations
- a predictable outcome based on the story's events
- an unexpected change in the direction or outcome of the plot ✓
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Exit quiz
- If you are able to recover and carry on after setbacks, you are...
- innovative.
- imaginative.
- resilient. ✓
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- Which of the following is the closest synonym for "resourceful"?
- inventive ✓
- dull
- hesitant
- rigid
- interesting
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- In which African country do the events of 'Harnessing the Wind' take place?
- 'Malawi' ✓
- In 'Harnessing the Wind,' why does William Kamkwamba build a windmill?
- to make electricity for his village ✓
- to take part in a national programme of utility building
- in order to bring gas to the village
- to encourage people to study physics
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- Withholding information from the reader can increase their...
- overall understanding of the story.
- appreciation of the writer's vocabulary choices.
- sense of anticipation and suspense. ✓
- answers to the their questions.
-
- In a narrative, you can withhold information about who, how, when, what, where and ...
- 'why' ✓
Worksheet
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Presentation
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Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Withholding information is a powerful narrative technique for increasing reader engagement.
- You can withhold information about the who, what, where, when and how of a story.
- Readers can respond in different ways to the withholding of information.
- Timing the revelation of the full information affects how your reader responds to the story.
Common misconception
Students often think that they should show or tell the key details of a story immediately.
Encourage them to think about mysteries and thrillers which keep the identify of the villain secret.
Keywords
To withhold - to keep something back
To reveal - to make known or show something that was previously secret
Resourceful - skilled at solving problems and making decisions on your own
Resilience - the ability to continue to be happy and positive after something difficult or bad has happened
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