‘The Twisted Tree’: selecting excellent quotes when writing about the novel
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can select excellent quotations when planning writing on 'The Twisted Tree'.
Key learning points
- Topic sentences state a paragraph's main idea.
- Topic sentences should develop and maintain your thesis.
- Each analytical paragraph should have at least two relevant quotations.
- Select main quotations and supporting quotations to include in a response.
- Main quotations should be analysed; supporting quotations don't need to be analysed.
Keywords
Thesis - an idea you develop and maintain throughout an essay
Topic sentences - the first sentence of a paragraph stating its main idea
Main quotations - quotations which support your topic sentence, and that require analysis
Supporting quotations - quotations which support your topic sentence, but don’t require analysis
Common misconception
All quotations need to be analysed in depth.
Not all quotations need the same level of analysis. Main quotations are central to your argument and should be analysed to show how they support your thesis. Supporting quotations are used to reinforce the point made with the main quotations.
Teacher tip
If time allows, you could add a further task where you create a chart with two columns: one for 'main quotations' and one for 'supporting quotations'. Have pupils fill out this chart with quotes from the text, ensuring they understand the purpose of each type of quotation.
Equipment
You will need access to the text 'The Twisted Tree' by Rachel Burge, published by Hot Key Books, 2019
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.When writing about 'The Twisted Tree', you should include quotations to support your ideas. What is a quotation?
Q2.When writing about 'The Twisted Tree', you could start with an introduction which follows a three part structure. Starting with the first sentence, put the three part structure in order.
Q3.When writing about 'The Twisted Tree', you should analyse quotations from the novel. What does it mean to analyse?
Q4.In what ways is a thesis statement different to a topic sentence?
Q5.The draugr (in 'The Twisted Tree') is an undead being that is taken by Burge directly from mythology.
Q6.What is the purpose of a thesis statement in an analytical essay?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is a thesis in an essay?
Q2.What should a topic sentence do?
Q3.Which type of quotation requires analysis?
Q4.What is the purpose of supporting quotations in an essay?
Q5.Which of the below is a strong topic sentence to answer the question: 'How does Burge present Martha as a heroic character in 'The Twisted Tree'?'
Q6.What should a good introduction to an essay include?
To help you plan your 7 English lesson on: ‘The Twisted Tree’: selecting excellent quotes when writing about the novel, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 7 English lesson on: ‘The Twisted Tree’: selecting excellent quotes when writing about the novel, 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 'The Twisted Tree': fiction reading unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.