the effect created by using language features such as conversational sentence openers that may break normal ‘rules’ of writing

a word, phrase or sentence that expresses strong emotion or surprise

a conversational or informal sentence that does not contain a verb, breaking the normal written convention

language structures that develop text cohesion

Writing the diary entry of a Windrush passenger before their arrival in the UK

English

Exploring the Empire Windrush and the experiences of its passengers

Retelling a Windrush story

Generating ideas for the diary entries of a Windrush passenger

Planning the diary entries of an imagined Windrush passenger

Writing the diary entry of a Windrush passenger after their arrival in the UK

In this unit, pupils learn to develop their skills of writing a diary with emotion based on a significant historical event.

In 'Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet’: Diary and Narrative Writing', pupils learnt to write a diary entry from a character's perspective with heightened emotions from a fictional context. In this unit, pupils will learn to develop their skills of writing a diary with emotion based on a significant historical event.’

In this unit, pupils use research around the Empire Windrush and an account of a fictional passenger to write a diary entry from a Windrush passenger's perspective. They use a conversational tone and informal devices, including exclamatives and verbless sentences, to meet the writing purpose.

The Empire Windrush: diary writing

It doesn't have an intended audience; you are writing for yourself only 

It is written to entertain a large audience; it should be engaging and chatty

Why is a conversational tone appropriate for a diary entry?

Which of the following are features that build a conversational tone? 

Which of the below are verbless sentences? 

I packed my things and I got on the bus. 

Which of the sentences below use conversational sentence openers? 

I was overflowing with: emotions fear, anxiety, excitement and exhilaration.

I was overflowing with emotions fear, anxiety: excitement and exhilaration.

I was overflowing with emotions: fear, anxiety, excitement and exhilaration.

Which sentence has the colon in the correct position? 

How is Celia feeling at the end of this diary entry? 

True or false: a diary can only be written using the present tense.

In which tense is this sentence written? 'I am determined to make a success of this place.'

In which tense is this sentence written? 'I rushed over to her and I hugged her tightly.'

Had I done the right thing by coming here? 

Which of these sentences show thoughts and feelings rather than events? 

I imagined what my mother's advice to me would be.

I couldn't believe the beauty of what I saw.

Which feeling best completes this action? 'As I sat down on the bed, ...'

How does Celia feel at the end of our diary plan?

Starter Quiz

True or false: a diary can only be written using the present tense.