Refining descriptions with semantic fields, present participles, and semicolons
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can edit and revise the content of a descriptive piece to improve it.
Key learning points
- Proofreading is an active process that enables us to spot and correct errors in written work.
- Changing your verbs and nouns to ones that work together can create a semantic field or overall atmosphere.
- You can link two closely related sentences with a semi-colon.
- Add a sentence that starts with a present participle to transport the reader into a scene.
Keywords
Semantic field - A group of words related in some way.
Atmosphere - The mood or feeling of a piece of writing.
Semicolon - A piece of punctuation (;) that can separate two closely related clauses.
Present participle - A form of a verb that ends in -ing that can show continuous action.
Proofreading - Carefully checking for errors in a text before it is published or finished.
Common misconception
Proofreading entails reading through a piece of writing once to check for errors.
There are a variety of different strategies for proofreading (LC3). Encourage students to use the strategies that work best for them.
Teacher tip
The focus of this lesson is on editing and refining - you may wish to revisit an earlier piece of writing students have completed and use this throughout this lesson.
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.Which word is missing from this definition of narrative voice: 'The a story is told from.'
Q2.Who wrote 'Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea'?
Q3.Which of the below are examples of structural features in a text?
Q4.What is the name of the submarine in 'Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea'?
Q5.What is being described here: 'Carefully checking for errors in a text before it is published or finished.'
Q6.Which of the below is the best definition of a semantic field?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is being described here: 'The mood or feeling of a piece of writing'?
Q2.Which of the below is the correct definition of the purpose of a semicolon?
Q3.Which word in the following sentence could be changed and why? 'As laughter echoed through the air and jubilant music filled the streets, the cheerful sun overhead frowned on the festive celebration.'
Q4.Andeep is describing a tense scene in which a character is trying not to be detected. What nouns and verbs would be appropriate for this scene?
Q5.Which of the below would be a useful thing to do when proofreading a text?
Q6.Which of the below are examples of present participles?
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Refining descriptions with semantic fields, present participles, and semicolons, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Refining descriptions with semantic fields, present participles, and semicolons, 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 4 English lessons from the Fiction: science fiction writing unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.