English

Y9 English

Key Stage 3

Year 9

Non-Fiction texts and view point writing

In this lesson, we will consider how we can use reading strategies to respond to non-fiction material. We will track the events in Aron Ralston's autobiography, 'Between a Rock and a Hard Place' and ask key questions of the material by responding to a series of prompts to allow us to extend our thinking and observe some of the features that are particular to non-fiction material.

Reading unseen non-fiction texts: Between a Rock and a Hard Place - Aron Ralston

In this lesson, we will complete the reading of this climactic moment from Aron Ralston's autobiography 'Between a Rock and a Hard Place'. During the session, our focus will be on defining the writer's thoughts and feelings and tracking how the writer communicates this. We will work through the text systematically, using our reading strategies to support us in unpicking the text and drawing our final conclusions at the end.

Examining thoughts and feelings: Between a Rock and a Hard Place - Aron Ralston

In this lesson, we will look at how to examine the writer's perspective. We will be continuing to work with our text, 'Between a Rock and a Hard Place' by Aron Ralston. We will look at how understanding Ralston's viewpoint helps us to make further observations about the attitudes and feelings communicated within the account. In order to help us do this, we will work with a writing frame and key quotations, building our response systematically. Once you have written your response, there will be a model answer for you to self-assess against and track your progress.

Exploring the writer's perspective: Between a Rock and a Hard Place - Aron Ralston

In this lesson, we will continue to work with our text of the week, an extract from Aron Ralston's autobiography 'Between a Rock and a Hard Place'. We will start by considering what subject terminology is useful to know when approaching non-fiction texts. We'll then be reminding ourselves of the process we have been using to select 'rich' evidence before using a slow writing method to create our analysis of a set passage. Finally, we will assess our progress against our reading skills criteria and a model response.

Close analysis of writer's methods: Between a Rock and a Hard Place - Aron Ralston

In this final lesson, we will consider how to give an evaluative response to our set text from Aron Ralston's autobiography 'Between a Rock and a Hard Place'. We will return to our evaluative planning techniques and work through our response together; first the planning process and then the actual write up. At the end of the lesson, we will assess our progress against our success criteria.

Evaluative response: Between a Rock and a Hard Place - Aron Ralston

In this lesson, we will continue our reading of unseen non-fiction texts; this week exploring 'Touching the Void' written by the British climber Joe Simpson about his experiences in the Peruvian Andes. As usual with our first reading, we will be tracking the events and responding to a series of prompts to develop our understanding of the text.

Reading process: Non-fiction texts

In this lesson, we will complete the reading of our extract from 'Touching the Void' by Joe Simpson whilst considering the thoughts and feelings he presents. We will find out a little bit more about Joe Simpson and his companion Simon Yates so that we can establish the very particular perspective of this incident. Then, we will write our responses to the writer's attitude in the selected passage; this will allow us to draw together our learning. A model answer will be provided to assess progress.

Examining thoughts, feelings and perspective

In this lesson, we will be following our process for analysing a writer's language use by examining a passage from Joe Simpson's 'Touching the Void' in more detail. As usual, we will ensure that we have selected 'rich' and connecting evidence that allows us to build our analysis before completing a slow write. We will then be checking our progress against our criteria and examining a model response.

Close analysis of language: Touching the Void - Joe Simpson

In this lesson, we will be considering what the skill of summary requires by working with our two non-fiction texts, 'Between a Rock and a Hard Place' and 'Touching the Void'. We will look at how we need to understand the focus of the question and select relevant supporting evidence to answer our question. Crucial in the skill of summary is the idea of synthesising information across the two texts and showing what we have understood / can infer. During the course of the lesson, we will break down the process and experiment with sentence stems to support our written responses.

Summarising ideas across two texts: Between a Rock and a Hard Place - Aron Ralston and Touching the Void - Joe Simpson

In this lesson, we will compare our unseen fiction texts and look at how the two writers' perspectives influence the way they write their accounts of being trapped. We will break down the task and first establish key similarities and differences in their attitudes. We will then use a planning frame to read extracts from the two texts and select our evidence. We will have an opportunity to write up our responses using a framework to support our answers and check our responses against a success criteria and model answer.

Comparing writers' perspectives and methods

In this lesson, we will continue our reading of unseen non-fiction texts. We will look at a pre-1900 extract from the pioneering Victorian explorer and naturalist, Isabella Bird. We will track the events and respond to a series of prompts to develop our understanding of the text. At the end of the lesson, we will reflect on the 'Big Picture' issues the text has presented by considering the 4 Conflicts.

Reading Unseen non-fiction texts: The Hawaiian Archipelago - Isabella Bird

In this lesson, we will analyse Isabella Bird's language use in the final part of our extract from The Hawaiian Archipelago. We will ensure that we have selected 'rich' and connecting evidence that allows us to build our analysis before completing a slow write. We will then check our progress against our criteria and examine a model response.

Analysis of language

In this lesson, we will begin to develop our response to Isabella Bird's perspective by defining her thoughts and feelings and placing her extract within a social and historical context of Victorian travel writing. Next, we will look at a written response to the extract using a writing frame to help organise our thoughts. At the end of the lesson, there will be an opportunity to assess our progress against a model response.

Alternative Perspectives: Hawaiian Archipelago - Isabella Bird

In this lesson, we will revisit Aron Ralston's 'Between a Rock and a Hard Place' and draw comparisons with Isabella Bird's 'Hawaiian Archipelago'. We will consolidate our comparison skills by using our framework for selecting evidence and structuring a written response. We will then be able to check our progress against a model response.

Comparing texts: Form and function - Isabella Bird and Aron Ralston

In this lesson, we will reflect on the three non-fiction texts we have read and consider who has inspired us the most: Ralston, Simpson or Bird. We will engage in an evaluative task before reviewing our candidates' stories and finally writing up our responses. The main priority today is to give a personal response, really reflecting on our feelings towards each of the individuals and the decisions they have made.

Personal response: Who has inspired you?

In this lesson, we will look at viewpoint or discursive writing. We will consider the statement: 'People who save lives, or help improve the lives of others, are the true role models of today'. Today, we will examine a model response to this statement and consider how it has been constructed.

Generating ideas: Stimulus extract

In this lesson, we will look at planning techniques that will help us generate ideas as well as produce a balanced and thoughtful viewpoint essay plan. We will do this by looking to the Greeks and learning about 'logos', 'ethos,' 'pathos' and 'kairos'. We will then have an opportunity to start creating a plan using a framework to help sequence our ideas.

Planning techniques: Logos, ethos and pathos

In this lesson, we will return to our plan and look at how to develop an effective introduction to our essay. We will start by reviewing the model answer and considering how the introduction works. We will then look at the technique of a 'drop paragraph' and consider how different choices are made depending on the purpose and audience of our task and the relationship we need to establish with our reader. After examining the features of a 'drop paragraph' you will return to your own plan and write the first section of your essay.

Writing an effective introduction

In this lesson, we will return to our essay plan and look at how to build the main body of our response, thinking about the function of the paragraph, the desired effect on the reader and the types of rhetorical devices that might be best to choose. We will do this as a slow write to give us time to think about our options. At the end of the lesson, we will critique our writing and compare to the model answer for fluency and control.

Creating an impact: Rhetorical devices and sequencing

In this lesson, we will look at how to ensure we write an effective conclusion by reviewing examples and looking at the features and function of a final paragraph in a viewpoint essay. We will have an opportunity to experiment before completing our essays. We will then complete a final review and commentary of our own work.

Key Stage 3, English, Non-Fiction texts and view point writing