Adopting different perspectives

English

Understanding the historical context of the Scottish witch trials

Exploring Addie's character

Using drama to explore a character 'low'

Planning the build-up of 'A Kind of Spark' including switches in perspective

Writing the first half of the build-up of 'A Kind of Spark'

Writing the second half of the build-up of 'A Kind of Spark'

Self-editing the build-up of 'A Kind of Spark'

Exploring a historical scenario linked to ‘A Kind of Spark’

Exploring Addie's speech in the climax of 'A Kind of Spark'

Planning the climax of 'A Kind of Spark' including flashbacks

Writing the first section of the climax of 'A Kind of Spark'

Writing the next two sections of the climax, including a flashback

Writing the final sections of the climax, including a flashback

Self-editing the climax of 'A Kind of Spark'

In this unit, pupils finesse writing a build-up and climax with a focus on switching between the past and present tense to highlight a jump in perspective. In 'When The Sky Falls’: Narrative and Diary Writing', pupils will write a narrative climax and use it as the stimulus for writing a diary entry from a character's perspective.

In 'Beowulf’, pupils rewrote the build-up and climax of a scene from the end of ’Beowulf’, focusing on interspersing dialogue to convey atmosphere and advance the action. In this unit, pupils will finesse writing a build-up and climax with a focus on switching between the past and present tense to highlight a jump in perspective.

In this unit, pupils write a build-up and climax based on the text, 'A Kind of Spark'. They learn to switch tense to highlight a jump in perspective from narrative prose to an internal monologue and from present to past tense to indicate a flashback. These outcomes can be used for KS2 SATS writing.

'A Kind of Spark': narrative writing

Which pronouns are most likely to appear in the first person perspective? 

Addie stepped away from the looming tree. 

Addie and Audrey handed out leaflets by the bookshop. 

Which of these sentences use a third person perspective? 

Which tense and person is used here? 'Addie looked on in horror as Miss Murphy crumpled her work.'

Which tense and person is used here? 'I can't believe no-one else is upset by what Mr Patterson is saying.'

Which features of an internal monologue are shown here? 'The lights are almost blindingly bright. But no-one else seems to notice.'

because Addie's senses can sometimes be overwhelmed

because it is very interesting for the reader

Why is including details about senses particularly important in our narrative? 

the central problem of the story is resolved

Which of these will **not** form part of the build-up of a story? 

The class visit the tree where the witches were hanged. 

Which of these events fall into the build-up of 'A Kind of Spark'? 

Addie is in the office with Miss Murphy. 

Which of these events from the build-up comes first? 

Which of the following best describes an 'internal monologue'? 

Why on earth is Mr Allison interfering in this? 

Girls like you don't belong in this school. 

Which of the following is most likely to be a piece of Miss Murphy's internal monologue? 

Which character's internal monologue might include the following idea? 'I just don't believe Miss Murphy has Addie's best interests at heart; I think I need to intervene.'

Starter Quiz

Which of these will not form part of the build-up of a story?