Organising our gothic writing to build tension
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can structure my piece of gothic writing to build tension.
Key learning points
- It is important to create tension in Gothic writing because it keeps your reader in a state of anticipation.
- Keeping the reader in a state of anticipation makes reading the text a thrilling experience for the reader.
- You can build tension by delaying revealing key information, switching focus or ending with a cliff-hanger.
- Fronted adverbials tell us the way in which something is done.
- Fronted adverbials can be used to build tension.
Keywords
Structure - the way a text is organised - what comes where and why
Tension - the mental strain a reader is put under because of their suspicion that something bad is about to happen
Strain - a state of tension or pressure
Suspense - feeling anxious or excited about what may happen
Aghast - filled with horror or shock
Common misconception
Pupils often reveal things early-on in descriptions by saying things like 'it was a painting' and then proceeding to describe it.
It can be much more effective to describe your narrator's view before revealing what the view actually is. This way, the reader is kept in a state of anticipation, as they try to work out what the view is.
Teacher tip
For less-confident pupils, you can adapt Task B by giving them your own sentences, or working through the task as a group, writing the sentences together and then asking them to add in a fronted adverbial, before going through some possible answers as a class.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is structure?
Q2.What is tension?
Q3.Which of the following describes 'mirroring'?
Q4.Which of the following words is an example of an adverb?
Q5.Which of the following is an example of a cliff-hanger?
Q6.Which of the following similes would be most appropriate in this Gothic description: "Her windows, like __________ stared out into the abyss, reflecting only the pallor of the moon"?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is tension?
Q2.Which of these can be used as a synonym for tension?
Q3.Which of the following methods can delay action to create tension?
Q4.Which of the following methods can be used to create tension at the end of a piece of writing?
Q5.Which of the following statements is true about fronted adverbials?
Q6.Which of the following does not use a fronted adverbial?
To help you plan your 8 English lesson on: Organising our gothic writing to build tension, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 English lesson on: Organising our gothic writing to build tension, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 English lessons from the A monster within: reading and writing Gothic fiction unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.