Improving your opinion article on Gothic literature

English

Context for Gothic literature: science and religion in the 19th century

Identifying features of the Gothic genre in the plot of ‘Frankenstein’

Exploring the character of Victor Frankenstein in Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’

Reading an extract from 'Frankenstein': A fateful night

Frankenstein's reaction to his creation

'Frankenstein' and the Gothic context

Regret in Mary Shelley’s 'Frankenstein'

Frankenstein's regret and the scientific revolution

Planning a written analysis of 'Frankenstein'

A written analysis of 'Frankenstein'

An introduction to 'Jane Eyre': Analysing an unseen extract

Reading an extract from Charlotte Brontë’s ‘Jane Eyre’

Lowood Institution: Gothic settings in 'Jane Eyre'

Analysing the atmosphere at Thornfield Hall in ‘Jane Eyre’

Using ‘Jane Eyre’ to inspire our use of gothic vocabulary

Using semantic fields to create a gothic atmosphere

Using figurative language to create a gothic atmosphere

Planning a Gothic description inspired by 'A monster within'

Organising our gothic writing to build tension

Writing a gothic description

Editing descriptive writing based on ‘A monster within’

Reading 'The Tell-Tale Heart'

The creation of suspense in 'The Tell-Tale Heart'

Symbolism in 'The Tell-Tale Heart'

Planning a cohesive argument about 'The Tell-Tale Heart'

A written analysis of 'The Tell-Tale Heart'

Analysing effective opinion articles

Using description in functional writing

The structure of an opinion article

Planning an opinion article about Gothic literature

Writing an opinion article on Gothic literature

In 'A Monster Within', pupils explore extracts from Gothic fiction. In 'Gothic Poetry', pupils apply this learning to the poetry of Edgar Allan Poe.

In 'The Twisted Tree', pupils are introduced to the Gothic genre. In 'A Monster Within', pupils explore Gothic motifs in a range of more challenging texts.

In this unit, pupils explore the Gothic. They start by learning what the Gothic is, before reading extracts from 'Frankenstein' and 'Jane Eyre', practising descriptive writing and reading 'The Tell-Tale Heart'. They finally learn how to write opinion articles and then write their own.

A monster within: reading and writing Gothic fiction

Historic or outdated representations of people that may portray inequality or injustice.

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

What is not a purpose of a rhetorical question? 

What makes a successful rhetorical question? 

When something is {{}} it is designed to meet individual or specific requirements.

When using direct address, you want to motivate, inspire and {{}} your reader.

your reader might feel accused of something

your reader will be left with a lot to think about

What might be the effect of using 'you' many times in an opinion article? 

speak to an imagined reader e.g 'parents and carers'

address readers collectively using 'we' or 'us'

address readers collectively using 'I or 'me'

How can you be more subtle when using direct address in your writing?

What is being described here: 'a question that is asked for effect rather than an answer.'?

What method is being used in this example: 'You should go and enjoy the great outdoors!'?

indicating that a person has done something wrong

to encourage and support a person’s ability to do something

designed to meet individual or specific requirements

Starter Quiz

What is being described here: 'a question that is asked for effect rather than an answer.'?