Planning a written response on human nature in Golding's 'Lord of the Flies'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can use single paragraph outlines to plan a response.
Key learning points
- Golding uses the novel to explore the true nature of human beings.
- A cohesive argument unpacks one 'big idea' - each paragraph should work with the others to prove the 'big idea'.
- Single paragraph outlines contain a topic sentence, supporting detail and a summary sentence.
- Supporting details should contain quotes, along with the writer's methods, key vocabulary and contextual information.
- A single paragraph outline should be planned for each section of your response and can take up to five minutes to plan.
Keywords
Cohesive - when all the ideas are united and work together to support one larger argument
Innate - instinctive and natural
Primal - describing an early stage in human development
Common misconception
Students often think that characters are not methods. They tend to think of methods as just 'similes' or 'metaphors'.
Any choice that the writer makes consciously is a method. This includes their use of characterisation. Anything the character says or does is a method.
Teacher tip
For the feedback task in Task B, you could ask students to swap their plans with a partner and get them to do some peer assessment using the criteria if this would be preferable to self-assessment. You could ask them to add add an idea to their partner's plan in a different coloured pen.
Equipment
A copy of the Faber & Faber 1997 edition of 'Lord of the Flies' is essential for this lesson.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.The writer's is anything the writer does consciously - any creative decision they make.
Q2.What physical characteristics does Jack have in 'Lord of the Flies'?
Q3.Which of the following characters are lower-class in 'Lord of the Flies'?
Q4.What does 'to ostracise' mean?
Q5.What does Ralph represent in 'Lord of the Flies'?
Q6.What is an allegory?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following is a synonym for the word 'innate'?
Q2.A essay is one in which all of the ideas and opinions expressed work together to feed into one 'bigger idea' or argument.
Q3.Which of the following does not need to be included in the supporting detail in a paragraph outline?
Q4.A introduces the main idea in your paragraph - what you will be proving.
Q5.What is the following sentence an example of: "Thus, Golding suggests that man has an innate evil inside, that emerges when rules and laws are removed?"
Q6.What is the writer's intention?
To help you plan your 9 English lesson on: Planning a written response on human nature in Golding's 'Lord of the Flies', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 English lesson on: Planning a written response on human nature in Golding's 'Lord of the Flies', 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 'Lord of the Flies' unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.