Year 11 - English
Using and understanding irony in non-fiction writing
Non-fiction: teenage kicks
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Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils develop their non-fiction reading and writing skills by looking at a collection of non-fiction texts about the theme of teenagers. They first build towards writing an open letter, before then looking at how they can write nuanced and sophisticated articles in an original voice.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to understand and explain the use of irony and use it for effect in your own writing.
Key Notes
- Broadly speaking, irony is a contrast between expectations and reality.
- There are three main types of irony: verbal, situational, and dramatic.
- Irony might be used to critique preconceptions or expectations or to create humour.
- Dramatic irony might also affect our opinion of a character.
- In persuasive writing, irony might be used to subvert the readers' expectations and challenge their ideas.
Vocabulary To Learn
- irony: a contrast between expectations and reality
- subvert: to criticise or undermine the usual way of doing something or common values
- persuade: convince (someone) to do something through reasoning or argument
- hypocrisy: the behaviour of people who do things that they tell other people not to do
- preconception: an idea or opinion formed before enough information is available to form it correctly
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- That irony is the same thing as a coincidence.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
Broadly speaking, irony is a contrast between expectations and reality. There are three main types of irony: verbal, situational, and dramatic.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'irony'
a contrast between expectations and reality.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: That irony is the same thing as a coincidence. Correction: Irony is a contrast between expectations and reality whereas coincidence involves a great deal of luck, or chance.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Analysing a dramatic description of an event Study Guide
- Analysing and improving an article Study Guide
- Applying reading strategies to non-fiction texts Study Guide
- Comparing ideas and advice on love in different centuries Study Guide
- Exploring attitudes to teenagers across time Study Guide
- Exploring how love has changed over time Study Guide
- Exploring vivid childhood accounts Study Guide
- Planning an effective article Study Guide
- Structural methods in a dramatic account Study Guide
- Understanding and planning open letters Study Guide
- Using credible expert views in a non-fiction article Study Guide
- Using dialogue effectively Study Guide
- Using juxtaposition and foreshadowing in childhood accounts Study Guide
- Withholding information and timing revelations Study Guide
- Writing an effective article Study Guide
- Writing an open letter Study Guide
- Writing humorously Study Guide
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