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Year 4 - English

Planning the climax of a narrative based on 'Jabberwocky'

'Jabberwocky': narrative writing

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils write a full narrative based on the nonsense poem 'Jabberwocky' from 'Through the Looking-Glass' by Lewis Carroll. Pupils write an opening, build-up, climax and resolution, focusing on writing all parts of the narrative arc and devoting time to editing their writing.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to plan the climax of a narrative based on 'Jabberwocky'.

Key Notes

  • The purpose of the climax is to describe the main action and to take the tension and excitement to its highest point.
  • When we plan, we log precise and ambitious vocabulary to help paint vivid pictures for our reader.
  • An effective plan's vocabulary is organised neatly and concisely in note form.
  • Dialogue is the written conversation between two or more characters within a narrative and it moves the story forward.
  • Show-not-tell language is a writing technique for showing a character's feelings to a reader.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • plan: a framework that writers create before they write a section or whole text
  • notes: written out of full sentences
  • ambitious vocabulary: high-level language in writing that meets the text's purpose
  • show-not-tell language: a writing technique for showing a character's feelings by describing their body language and facial expressions
  • dialogue: the written conversation between two characters or more within a narrative

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Pupils may think they can write a narrative by briefly explaining each key moment.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

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

The purpose of the climax is to describe the main action and to take the tension and excitement to its highest point. When we plan, we log precise and ambitious vocabulary to help paint vivid pictures for our reader.

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

a framework that writers create before they write a section or whole text.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: Pupils may think they can write a narrative by briefly explaining each key moment. Correction: It is important we choose a range of adjectives, verbs and adverbs to include in our plan that create a full, descriptive narrative. The reader needs to be able to 'see' the pictures we paint with our words.

More Lessons In This Unit

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