Year 4 - English
Writing the opening of a narrative based on 'Jabberwocky'
'Jabberwocky': narrative writing
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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 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 write the opening of a narrative based on 'Jabberwocky'.
Key Notes
- The purpose of the opening is to engage the reader and introduce the setting and characters.
- Using a range of sentence types (simple, compound and complex) improves text flow for the reader.
- Direct speech is punctuated using inverted commas; dialogue moves the action forward.
- Notes from the plan can be used to form full sentences.
- A new paragraph is used to signal the start of a new idea or key moment.
Vocabulary To Learn
- text flow: how a text is written to keep the reader engaged
- fronted adverbial: a sentence starter followed by a comma
- relative clause: a type of subordinate clause that starts with a relative pronoun
- direct speech: shows that a character is speaking out loud in a text
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may struggle with using accurate punctuation in direct speech sentences.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
The purpose of the opening is to engage the reader and introduce the setting and characters. Using a range of sentence types (simple, compound and complex) improves text flow for the reader.
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 using accurate punctuation in direct speech sentences. Correction: Give pupils an opportunity to practise writing speech on mini-whiteboards and provide a visual scaffold to support them.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Editing the final two paragraphs of a narrative based on 'Jabberwocky' Study Guide
- Generating vocabulary to write a narrative based on 'Jabberwocky' Study Guide
- Peer editing the opening of a narrative based on 'Jabberwocky' Study Guide
- Planning the build-up of a narrative based on 'Jabberwocky' Study Guide
- Planning the climax of a narrative based on 'Jabberwocky' Study Guide
- Planning the opening of a narrative based on 'Jabberwocky' Study Guide
- Planning the resolution of a narrative based on 'Jabberwocky' Study Guide
- Publishing a narrative based on 'Jabberwocky' Study Guide
- Understanding the plot of 'Jabberwocky' Study Guide
- Writing the build-up of a narrative based on 'Jabberwocky' Study Guide
- Writing the climax of a narrative based on 'Jabberwocky' Study Guide
- Writing the resolution of a narrative based on 'Jabberwocky' Study Guide
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