An opening is the beginning section of a text.

An interview is a conversation between two or more people where one party is asked questions about something.

Speculation is a theory or idea formed about something without the full concrete evidence.

Writing the opening of an article on ‘The Speckled Band’ case

English

in 'Sherlock Holmes: Short Stories', pupils practise using analytical writing sentence structures, to formulate their arguments. In 'Myths and Legends Re-Told', pupils develop these skills further, applying them to a range of pre- 20th Century texts. 

in 'When the Sky Falls' pupils read fiction texts for fluency and comprehension. In 'Sherlock Holmes: Short Stories' pupils start to analyse the language choices of an author.

In this unit, pupils read and explore two famous Sherlock Holmes stories. They start by reading and analysing 'The Speckled Band' before using it as inspiration to write a newspaper article. They then read and analyse 'The Boscombe Valley Murder' before writing a comparison of the two stories.

Sherlock Holmes: short stories

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce, poverty, deprivation.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

To give all the details of the story to the reader.

To summarise the main points of the article to the reader.

What is the purpose of a newpaper article opening?

A theory formulated without firm evidence.

Where must you include the who, what, where, when, why of a newspaper article?

What is important to include in the main body of a newspaper article?

What does not fit into an opening of a newspaper article?

Who, what, where, when, why of the event.

Which order will you find these details when reading a newspaper article?

To give all of the details of a news story.

What is purpose of a headline for a newspaper article?

What must a subheading be when used in a newspaper article?

'Tasty new pastry lands in shops!' Which technique does this headline use?

The main body text including introduction.

What comes after the headline and subheading in a newspaper article?

Local business announces expansion plans.

Which headline is least effective at hooking the reader?

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Adult supervision recommended

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Writing the opening of an article on ‘The Speckled Band’ case

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.