Describing a setting to reflect dystopian themes
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can create a description of a setting that reflects different dystopian themes.
Key learning points
- Contrasting settings can be used to show injustice and inequality in a dystopian society
- Hostile or dilapidated settings are often used to reflect difficulties or discrimination
- Opulent or luxurious settings are often used to show power and greed
- Semantic fields can help create a setting that has a theme running through it
Keywords
Opulent - An opulent place or item is costly and luxurious, in a boastful manner.
Dilapidated - A dilapidated building is in a state of ruin because of neglect.
Semantic field - A semantic field is a group of words related in meaning.
Inequality - When a society has inequality, there are unfair differences between groups of people.
Juxtapose - If you juxtapose two things, you place them together for contrasting effect.
Common misconception
Pupils may think that dystopian societies only involve dilapidated settings.
Explain that there are two sides in a dystopia: those with power and control who live in luxury and ordinary citizens in run down areas.
Teacher tip
Create a word bank of words to use for an opulent setting and provide it to pupils that need more help with independent writing.
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 a subordinate clause?
Q2.What is the purpose of the conjunction 'and'?
Q3.Match the punctuation type to the purpose.
to separate items in a list and clauses
express intense emotion
to join two independent clauses together
to express possession
to introduce a list or explanation
Q4.Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Q5.Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Q6.Which sentence punctuates the list correctly?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is a semantic field?
Q2.Which words fit a semantic field of nature?
Q3.What does opulent mean?
Q4.Opulent settings in dystopias most often reflect ...
Q5.Dilapidated settings in dystopias most often reflect ...
Q6.What theme does the juxtaposition of opulent and dilapidated settings suggest?
To help you plan your 7 English lesson on: Describing a setting to reflect dystopian themes, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 7 English lesson on: Describing a setting to reflect dystopian themes, 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 Dystopian settings: descriptive writing unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.