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Year 4 - English

Writing the climax of 'The Happy Prince'

'The Happy Prince': narrative writing and reading

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils write a full narrative based on a rewritten version of the classic 'The Happy Prince'. Pupils write an opening, build-up, climax and resolution, focusing on all parts of the narrative arc in turn and building a full understanding of how each narrative section builds on another.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to write the climax of 'The Happy Prince'.

Key Notes

  • Direct speech is punctuated using inverted commas. Dialogue moves the action forward.
  • Notes from a plan are used to form full sentences.
  • A range of sentence types (simple, compound and complex) improves text flow for the reader.
  • A range of fronted adverbials is used to improve text flow.
  • The purpose of the climax is to describe the main action and to take the tension and excitement to its highest point.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • text flow: how a text is written to keep the reader engaged
  • fronted adverbial: a sentence starter followed by a comma
  • direct speech: shows that a character is speaking out loud in a text
  • complex sentence: a sentence formed of a main clause and a subordinate clause

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Pupils may struggle with remembering the different punctuation rules in speech first and speech second sentences.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.

Direct speech is punctuated using inverted commas. Dialogue moves the action forward. Notes from a plan are used to form full sentences.

2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'text flow'

how a text is written to keep the reader engaged.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: Pupils may struggle with remembering the different punctuation rules in speech first and speech second sentences. Correction: Provide a visual scaffold of the speech first and speech second punctuation rules. Encourage pupils to use this when writing direct speech.

More Lessons In This Unit

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