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Year 7 - English

Explaining how Burnett presents the garden setting in 'The Secret Garden'

Step into the unknown: fiction reading and creative writing

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 explain how Burnett uses language devices such as personification and similes to present the garden setting in 'The Secret Garden'.

Key Notes

  • Use the first read of an unseen extract to establish key information about plot, character and setting.
  • After a first read, read a text more closely, considering the meaning of specific words/phrases and their effects.
  • Writers deliberately use a range of language techniques to create meaning.
  • Every idea we have must be clearly supported by evidence from the text.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • setting: the location and time frame in which the action of a narrative takes place.
  • language devices: a writing technique that writers use to express ideas, convey meaning, and highlight important themes.
  • tone: the general mood or feeling of a text.
  • personification: when non-human objects or things are given human characteristics.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • That we will all respond to a description in the same way.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

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

Use the first read of an unseen extract to establish key information about plot, character and setting. After a first read, read a text more closely, considering the meaning of specific words/phrases and their effects.

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

the location and time frame in which the action of a narrative takes place.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: That we will all respond to a description in the same way. Correction: The way we respond to a description and the language devices will always be unique because we all have different experiences.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 7 English guide library.