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Year 5 - English

Writing the opening of 'The Viewer'

'The Viewer': narrative writing

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils use a picture book stimulus to write the opening and build-up of a narrative. They develop their understanding of how to hook a reader through a narrative opening and how to build and maintain tension in a narrative build-up, using cohesive devices and show-not-tell.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to write the opening of 'The Viewer'.

Key Notes

  • The opening is the first section of a story where the writer describes the setting and main characters.
  • The opening should be descriptive and use figurative language to build an atmosphere for the reader.
  • A non-finite complex sentence contains a non-finite clause.
  • A non-finite clause extends the sentence by telling the reader about a second thing that the subject is doing.
  • A non-finite clause can vary its position in a sentence.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • opening: the first section of a story and where the writer describes the setting and main characters
  • figurative language: the use of metaphor, simile and personification to paint vivid pictures for the reader
  • non-finite clause: a type of subordinate clause that can start with a verb in the progressive tense

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Pupils may think that non-finite clauses always come at the start of sentences.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

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

The opening is the first section of a story where the writer describes the setting and main characters. The opening should be descriptive and use figurative language to build an atmosphere for the reader.

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

the first section of a story and where the writer describes the setting and main characters.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: Pupils may think that non-finite clauses always come at the start of sentences. Correction: Teach pupils that non-finite clauses can vary their position in a sentence and model a non-finite clause in both positions.

More Lessons In This Unit

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