Exploring autobiographical texts
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can identify and explain how personal texts use language features to create effects.
Key learning points
- Forms of personal texts include: letters, diaries, autobiographies, memoirs and travelogues.
- Writers of autobiographies will use literary devices to convey emotions and document events in detail.
- Features of autobiographical writing include: first person, past tense, use of descriptive and emotive language.
- Mary Seacole effectively conveys the horror of war through her use of vivid imagery.
- Seacole's use of first person and emotive language create an intimate and authentic account of war.
Keywords
Form - in writing, this refers to the structure, format or genre of a text
Literary - relating to literature or written works, especially those considered to have artistic or intellectual value
Autobiographical - a piece of writing in which the author tells the story of their own life
First person - a point of view in writing where the narrator refers to themselves using pronouns like 'I' or 'we'
Common misconception
Autobiographies are not considered literary or forms of literature.
Just like other forms of writing, writers of autobiographies will use literary devices to convey emotions and document events in detail.
Teacher tip
You may wish to prepare some examples of personal texts, like letters or diary extracts, to share and compare at the beginning of the lesson.
Equipment
Mary Seacole's autobiography extract is available in the additional materials for this lesson.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.If a text was published in 1857, it was published in the ...
Q2.Which of these pieces of writing would not be considered non-fiction?
Q3.Complete the sentence: A travelogue is ...
Q4.Which word can be described as 'the structure, format or genre of a text'?
Q5.If a writer is using the pronouns 'I' and 'we' they are writing in ...
Q6.Which sentence is written in past tense?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In which year was Mary Seacole's autobiography published?
Q2.Which perspective is typically used in autobiographical writing?
Q3.Which tense is commonly used in autobiographical writing?
Q4.Which word beginning with 'f' can be described as 'the structure, format or genre of a text'?
Q5.What is the primary purpose of Mary Seacole's autobiography?
Q6.Which sentence best describes Mary Seacole's use of graphic imagery in her autobiography?
To help you plan your 9 English lesson on: Exploring autobiographical texts, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 English lesson on: Exploring autobiographical texts, 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 Women's rights across the ages: non-fiction reading and writing unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.