Year 5 - English
Writing part one of the opening of 'Macbeth'
Shakespeare's 'Macbeth': narrative and soliloquy 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 have their first taste of Shakespearean play scripts. They analyse the witches' prologue of this iconic play as a starting point for writing a narrative opening. Pupils investigate the central character, writing a soliloquy based on Macbeth's famous dagger monologue.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to use a plan to write a narrative opening based on Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'.
Key Notes
- Writing is most successful when structure, content and vocabulary is planned.
- A narrative opening should engage the reader and describe the setting and any characters who are present.
- Using a wide range of precise, ambitious vocabulary enhances text cohesion.
- The senses can be appealed to when generating ambitious descriptive vocabulary.
- Structuring sentences in a range of ways enhances text cohesion.
Vocabulary To Learn
- senses: the physical abilities of sight, smell, hearing, touch and taste
- complex sentence: a sentence formed of at least one main clause and a subordinate clause
- fronted adverbial of place: a sentence starter that tells the reader where something is or happens
- figurative language: the use of simile, metaphor and personification to create vivid imagery
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may struggle to convert notes into complete sentences.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
Writing is most successful when structure, content and vocabulary is planned. A narrative opening should engage the reader and describe the setting and any characters who are present.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'senses'
the physical abilities of sight, smell, hearing, touch and taste.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Pupils may struggle to convert notes into complete sentences. Correction: Provide lots of time for oral rehearsal at each stage of the lesson and ensure children have access to vocabulary and plans used earlier in the unit.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Analysing a scene in the build-up of 'Macbeth' Study Guide
- Analysing the main character in 'Macbeth' Study Guide
- Exploring characters and setting in the opening scene of 'Macbeth' Study Guide
- Generating vocabulary for the opening of 'Macbeth' Study Guide
- Identifying the features of a soliloquy Study Guide
- Peer editing a soliloquy based on 'Macbeth' Study Guide
- Peer editing the opening of a narrative based on 'Macbeth' Study Guide
- Performing a soliloquy in character as Macbeth Study Guide
- Planning and writing the 'against' section of Macbeth's soliloquy Study Guide
- Planning and writing the 'for' section of Macbeth's soliloquy Study Guide
- Planning and writing the closing thoughts of Macbeth's soliloquy Study Guide
- Planning part one of the opening of 'Macbeth' Study Guide
- Planning part two of the opening of 'Macbeth' Study Guide
- Understanding the context of Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' Study Guide
- Understanding themes, characters and plot in Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' Study Guide
- Writing part two of the opening of 'Macbeth' Study Guide
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