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      Planning a narrative scene with direct speech in 'Whale Rider'

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can plan a narrative scene with direct speech in 'Whale Rider'.

      Key learning points

      1. Ambitious vocabulary can be logged on a plan for future use.
      2. Fronted adverbials of time, place and manner indicate when, where and how action takes place.
      3. Dialogue, using direct speech, moves the plot forward and develops characters in a story.
      4. Show-not-tell language shows a character’s feelings by describing their actions, body language and facial expressions.
      5. Notes should not be written in full sentences and bullet points can be used to make notes clear.

      Keywords

      • Direct speech - the term used for a character speaking out loud in a text

      • Plan - a framework that writers create before they write a section or whole text

      • Ambitious vocabulary - high-level language in writing that meets the text purpose

      Common misconception

      Direct speech should mimic real-life conversation exactly.

      Direct speech should serve specific purposes, such as advancing the plot, developing characters or providing necessary information.

      Teacher tip

      This narrative scene is based on the part of the film where the men and boys gather at the Marae. Paikea tries to sit on the front bench with them, which infuriates her grandfather, causing him to order her to leave. Capture stills from this scene for the 4 key moments that writing will be based on.

      Equipment

      You must have access to the film 'Whale Rider' (South Pacific Pictures, 2002) to complete this unit. Images of the characters and scenes from the film will be helpful.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      What is a plan?

      a final piece of written work
      Correct answer: a framework that writers create before they write
      a writer's first ideas said aloud about their writing

      Q2.
      Put the sections of a narrative in chronological order.

      1 - opening
      2 - build-up
      3 - climax
      4 - resolution

      Q3.
      What linguistic device is 'Courageously,' an example of?

      a subordinate clause
      Correct answer: a fronted adverbial of manner
      a co-ordinating conjunction
      a main clause

      Q4.
      What does a full sentence need to include?

      a comma
      Correct answer: a full stop (or other closing punctuation)
      Correct answer: a verb
      Correct answer: a capital letter
      a conjunction

      Q5.
      Match the word class to its example.

      Correct Answer:verb,gripped

      gripped

      Correct Answer:noun,granddaughter

      granddaughter

      Correct Answer:adverb,proudly

      proudly

      Correct Answer:adjective,magical

      magical

      Q6.
      Which of these is a full sentence?

      The dutiful granddaughter.
      With pride, the dutiful granddaughter.
      Correct answer: With pride, the dutiful granddaughter sang melodically.
      The dutiful granddaughter in the crowd.

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Put the four key moments of the build-up in chronological order.

      1 - Paikea leads the boys to the Marae by singing.
      2 - Paikea sits in the front row with the men.
      3 - Koro tells her to move to the back because she is a girl.
      4 - Paikea obeys her grandfather.

      Q2.
      Choose the appropriate fronted adverbial to start the following sentence: '__________ she slumped in defeat.'

      In addition,
      Correct answer: Solemnly,
      However,
      In the morning,
      Quickly,

      Q3.
      What is the punctuation mark that shows when direct speech begins and ends?

      exclamation mark
      comma
      Correct answer: inverted commas
      full stop

      Q4.
      What is the reporting clause in this speech sentence? “What did I say?” asked Koro angrily.

      ''What did I say?''
      Correct answer: asked Koro angrily
      angrily
      Koro

      Q5.
      Which of these is the adverb in the following sentence? 'Sternly, Koro fixed his gaze on his dutiful granddaughter.'

      fixed
      gaze
      Correct answer: sternly
      dutiful
      granddaughter

      Q6.
      Match each word class to its example.

      Correct Answer:verb,rising

      rising

      Correct Answer:adverb,passionately

      passionately

      Correct Answer:adjective,angry

      angry

      Correct Answer:noun,determination

      determination


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