Year 7 - English
Contrasting the familiar and the unknown in your descriptive writing
Step into the unknown: fiction reading and creative 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 develop their fiction reading and creative writing by reading extracts from famous fiction and then emulating key techniques in their own writing. They start by securing and extending their knowledge of key sentence grammar, before reading and emulating the extracts.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to use language and structure to create contrast between the familiar and the unknown.
Key Notes
- You can use language such as semantic fields to show the contrast between the familiar and the unknown.
- You could use short, simple sentences to show the surprise at the unknown.
- You could use compound sentences to show familiarity since you are aware of the relationship between objects.
Vocabulary To Learn
- familiar: something well-known from a long or close association.
- contrast: an obvious difference between two or more things.
- unknown: something not known or familiar.
- evoke: to bring or recall (a feeling, memory, or image) to the conscious mind.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Creative writing is more effective when it focuses on something extraordinary.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
You can use language such as semantic fields to show the contrast between the familiar and the unknown. You could use short, simple sentences to show the surprise at the unknown.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'familiar'
something well-known from a long or close association.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Creative writing is more effective when it focuses on something extraordinary. Correction: Describing something very well known to you can be more effective as you're able to spend the time focusing on the little details.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Analysing and emulating Baum's use of unknown characters in 'The Wizard of Oz' Study Guide
- Analysing character in an unseen extract from Bilan's 'Asha and the Spirit Bird' Study Guide
- Analysing Dorothy's return from the unknown in Baum's 'The Wizard of Oz' Study Guide
- Considering sensory language in Bilan's 'Asha and the Spirit Bird' Study Guide
- Considering sentence structures in Bilan's 'Asha and the Spirit Bird' Study Guide
- Considering strategies for refining and editing your descriptive writing Study Guide
- Contrasting the everyday and the unknown settings in Baum's 'The Wizard of Oz' Study Guide
- Developing explanations in analytical writing about Akala's 'The Dark Lady' Study Guide
- Developing your explanation of quotations from 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' Study Guide
- Drafting a piece of descriptive writing on 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' Study Guide
- Explaining and emulating how Bilan uses light in 'Asha and the Spirit Bird' Study Guide
- Explaining how Akala uses patterns of language for effect in 'The Dark Lady' Study Guide
- Explaining how Burnett presents the garden setting in 'The Secret Garden' Study Guide
- Identifying and emulating Baum's use of pathetic fallacy in 'The Wizard of Oz' Study Guide
- Meeting a fantastical creature in Bilan's 'Asha and the Spirit Bird' Study Guide
- Practising planning and writing a detailed description based on an image Study Guide
- Responding to an unseen extract from 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' Study Guide
- Responding to an unseen extract from Burnett's 'The Secret Garden' Study Guide
- Responding to key images in an unseen extract from Akala's 'The Dark Lady' Study Guide
- Revising topic sentences and selecting precise evidence from 'The Dark Lady' Study Guide
- Using adjectives and semantic fields to plan and write descriptive paragraphs Study Guide
- Using adverbs, subordinate clauses and compound sentences in descriptive writing Study Guide
- Using ambitious language and colour imagery to improve your descriptive writing Study Guide
- Using dashes, colons, and commas for effect in descriptive writing Study Guide
- Using figurative language and structure to create an unsettling atmosphere Study Guide
- Using precise evidence from Burnett's 'The Secret Garden' to support an idea Study Guide
- Using sensory language and figurative language to create an atmospheric setting Study Guide
- Using simple, compound and complex sentences in descriptive writing Study Guide
- Using vocabulary choices, similes, and metaphors to plan descriptive writing Study Guide
- Writing clear analytical paragraphs about Bilan's 'Asha and the Spirit Bird' Study Guide
- Writing complete sentences and correcting sentence fragments Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 7 English guide library.