Year 4 - English
Writing the opening of 'Whale Rider'
'Whale Rider': narrative writing
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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 range of narrative outcomes based on the film 'Whale Rider'. They analyse sections of the film carefully, from which they write an opening, an emotive scene and a resolution. Pupils also practise using speech punctuation accurately in their narratives.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to write the opening of 'Whale Rider'.
Key Notes
- The purpose of a narrative opening is to introduce the characters and to describe the setting to the reader.
- Using a range of sentence types (simple, compound and complex) improves text flow for the reader.
- A fronted adverbial of time, place or manner adds extra detail to the main clause that follows it.
- This narrative version of 'Whale Rider' is written in the past tense.
- Oral rehearsal before writing helps to structure grammatically correct sentences and check for sense.
Vocabulary To Learn
- opening: the first part of a narrative that sets the scene for the rest of the story
- past tense: shows that the action happened before now
- fronted adverbial: a sentence starter followed by a comma
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils might write about moments that take place later in the narrative.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
The purpose of a narrative opening is to introduce the characters and to describe the setting to the reader. 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. 'opening'
the first part of a narrative that sets the scene for the rest of the story.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Pupils might write about moments that take place later in the narrative. Correction: Ensure that pupils know to focus on the three key moments from their plans from the previous lesson.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Editing paragraphs of a narrative in 'Whale Rider' Study Guide
- Exploring characters' perspectives Study Guide
- Learning about the context of 'Whale Rider' Study Guide
- Planning a narrative scene with direct speech in 'Whale Rider' Study Guide
- Planning an emotive narrative scene in 'Whale Rider' Study Guide
- Planning the opening of 'Whale Rider' Study Guide
- Planning the resolution of 'Whale Rider' Study Guide
- Practising writing direct speech for 'Whale Rider' Study Guide
- Publishing and reading my 'Whale Rider' narrative aloud Study Guide
- Retelling the story of 'Whale Rider' Study Guide
- Writing a narrative scene with direct speech in 'Whale Rider' Study Guide
- Writing paragraph one of an emotive narrative scene in 'Whale Rider' Study Guide
- Writing paragraph two of an emotive narrative scene in 'Whale Rider' Study Guide
- Writing the resolution of 'Whale Rider' Study Guide
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