Lesson video

Hi, I'm Ms. Miah.

Thank you so much for joining me in this lesson today.

For this lesson, you will need a copy of the novel, "The Twisted Tree".

I hope you're excited about this lesson.

I am.

Let's get started.

In this lesson, you will be able to recall key extracts from the novel and make inferences about them.

Your keywords are on the screen now and you can write them down if you'd like to.

So, we've got inference, sinister, the Gothic, simile.

Let's find out what these words mean.

Inference.

A conclusion you reach by applying logic to the evidence you are given.

Sinister.

Giving the impression that something harmful or evil is about to happen.

The Gothic.

A style of writing that involves dark, mysterious, and supernatural themes.

And lastly, simile.

A figure of speech where two separate things are deliberately contrasted for effect, using "like" or "as.

" Super.

Let's move on.

So, this lesson is all about, "The Twisted Tree," and we're going be revising inferences.

We've got two lesson cycles today, in our first lesson cycle, we're going to be revising inferences.

And then secondly, we're gonna be moving on to making inferences about the fog.

Let's get started.

So, with a partner, I'd like you to discuss what is meant by the word inference.

What can you use to make them?

You can pause the video now and have a chat with your partner about this.

So, what did you discuss?

Well, an influence is where you look for suggested ideas rather than just what is stated directly.

It is about looking at information and coming up with interpretations based on evidence and reasoning.

Inferences usually rely on things that haven't been explicitly stated but rather hinted at or suggested.

Inference is a different skill to analysis.

So, look at the image below.

What could we infer is going on here?

I'd like you to discuss this with a partner.

You can pause the video here and click Play once you've completed this discussion.

So, what did you get?

Well, you may have said something like this.

So, the speaker is very popular.

The speaker is important in some way.

It is in an inner city of some kind.

The speech is in the USA or affects the USA in some way.

So, what led us to make those inferences?

Have a think.

Okay, so starting off with the speaker is very popular.

Well, there is a large crowd and we can definitely see that in the photo there.

For the next one, the speaker is important in some way.

Well, he is on a raised pedestal and has an entourage.

Thirdly, it is in an inner city of some kind.

Hmm, Well, we can see that there are high-rise buildings, typical of a city.

And lastly, the speech is in the USA or affects the USA in some way.

Well, we can see that there are American flags on display.

So, we can make inferences from a photo by using what we can see plus what we already know.

And we did this by, first, looking for the clues in the image and if we can see facial expressions, body language, the amount of people, clothing, objects, weather or even the setting.

Then we thought about what those clues suggest.

And then finally we used all of that information to make these inferences.

Over to you.

Inferences usually rely on things that have been directly stated.

Is this true or is this false?

What do you think?

You can pause the video here and click Play once you've got the answer.

So, what did you get?

If you got false, well done.

Why do you think this is?

You can pause the video again.

So, what did you get?

Well, you may have said something along the lines of this.

Inferences rely on things that haven't been explicitly stated but hinted at or suggested.

Well done if you got that correct.

Let's move on.

Task A, look at that image on the right, write four things you can infer from this image.

I'd like you to also annotate the image with the evidence that led you to that inference.

You can pause the video here and click Play once you've completed this task.

So, how did that go?

Let's have a look.

Here is how you could've approached this task.

It is a rugby match.

It is night.

The players are running.

They are both on the same team.

I'd like you to self-assess.

What evidence from the image could have led to those inferences?

Have a think.

We can see that it is a rugby match because the players, they are holding a rugby ball.

It is night.

Well, the sky is dark and there is a suggestion of floodlights.

And I can see this because there is some type of white light that is bouncing off the players.

Next, the players are running.

Well, the way the players' legs and arms are positioned, you can see that they're running quite fast.

And lastly, they are both on the same team and the players' kits match.

Let's move on.

Lesson cycle two, making inferences about the fog.

Let's begin.

So, these Oak pupils have some helpful tips on making inferences about "The Twisted Tree.

" Izzy says, "When making an inference, start by choosing a keyword or technique to zoom in on.

" Sam says, "Avoid over-reliance on 'this suggests' by using synonyms like, illustrates hints or implies.

" And lastly, "Inferences should be developed with additional ideas that could link to text.

" Those are some really helpful tips.

Let's try and remember those.

Let's move on.

Quick thoughts.

Have a look at this image.

How is the fog presented throughout the novel?

Well, the fog is presented as a sinister presence, often symbolizing mystery and danger.

For example, it often precedes the draugr.

In fact, its presentation can be seen as totally in keeping with the Gothic genre.

With a partner, I'd like you to discuss what you remember about the Gothic.

You can pause the video here and then click Play when you're ready to rejoin us.

So, the Gothic is a genre of writing that creates a feeling of fear, mystery, and suspense.

It often includes dark settings like old houses, castles, storms or graveyards and may feature strange or supernatural events.

Gothic stories are designed to make the reader feel uneasy or curious.

Can you think of any specific ways the fog is described?

Well, you might have said, it is often compared to a mountain.

A simile is used to compare the fog to a snake around Martha and the tree.

The fog is also described as having a negative effect on the tree with the tree described as waving its arms at Martha to warn her of the danger.

We are going to practice making inferences about the fog following the below structure.

Step one, identify an interesting quote.

Step two, make a clear inference.

Step three, make a link to the Gothic.

Step four, develop with an additional inference.

So, now we're going to take a look at an example.

So step one, identify an interesting quote.

So, Burge describes the fog as a mountain that looms in front of Martha.

Now, we're going to make an inference for step two.

So, this metaphor makes the fog seem opaque and like it's growing, the danger is increasing.

So, opaque means you can't really see through it.

Step three, make a link to the Gothic.

So, this links to the Gothic as fog is a Gothic motif often associated with the mystery and concealment.

And now, to develop with an additional influence, we've got an example of this here.

So, in addition, Burge describes the fog as smothering light, which could represent hope.

The fog can be seen as literally extinguishing any hope that Martha has left.

Back to you.

So, Burge uses a simile to compare the fog to a, is it A, a snake, B, a mountain, C, draugr, or D, a Gothic motif?

What do you think?

You can pause the video here and click Play once you've got the answer.

So, what did you get?

Well, if you got A, a snake, you are correct.

Burge uses a simile to compare the fog to a snake.

Well done if you got that correct.

Let's move on.

Task B, I'd like you to turn to page 94 of "The Twisted Tree.

" Read the description of the fog from paragraph two that begins with the word "mist," to the end of the description and the word "away.

" Answer the following question, how does Burge make the fog seem mysterious and terrifying?

Pick out key descriptive words and explain the effect.

Use the structure below for your answer.

Step one, identify an interesting quote.

Step two, make a clear inference.

Step three, make a link to the Gothic.

And step four, develop with an additional inference.

You can pause the video here and click Play once you've completed this task.

So, how did that go?

Here is how you could have approached this task.

Burge makes the fog seem frightening by comparing it to a snake.

The verb "snakes" suggests a sense of danger and malice implying that the mist is alive and predatory.

This presentation of the mist as a serpent evokes classic Gothic elements, where nature often takes on sinister supernatural qualities.

By describing the mist as wrapping around the body, Burge intensifies the feeling of entrapment and suffocation heightening, heightening the terror of the scene.

Well done if you managed to mention something along those lines, I'd like for you to now discuss where has the above answer made inferences from the text?

Have a think.

So, what did you get?

Well, these parts that are highlighted, are the inferences.

We know that these are inferences because the writer does not directly say that the mist is alive, the mist is predatory, the character feels trapped, or that the character feels suffocated.

Instead, we work these ideas out from the language the writer uses.

So for example, if the fog is described in a way that sounds threatening, we infer a sense of danger and malice.

And that's what's shown here.

And if the description makes the fog seem like it is moving or attacking, we can infer it seems alive and predatory.

If the fog surrounds, closes in, or blocks vision, we can infer entrapment.

If it feels thick, heavy, or hard to breathe in, we can infer suffocation.

So, these are inferences because they are not stated plainly.

They are ideas we get by reading between the lines and interpreting the writer's word choices.

Well done for identifying the inferences in this text.

So, we're now at the end of our lesson.

Let's summarize our learning.

So, this lesson was to do with the novel, "The Twisted Tree," and we were revising inferences.

You now understand that when making an inference, we start by choosing a keyword or technique to zoom in on.

Inferences should be developed with additional ideas that could link to context.

Similes and metaphors that link to snakes are often used for the association with evil.

And lastly, fog often symbolizes mystery and danger.

Thank you so much for joining me in this lesson.

I hope you enjoyed it.

Bye.