Developing reading skills and personal responses to non-fiction texts
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can make predictions about two unseen non-fiction texts and develop a personal response to them.
Key learning points
- Asking questions about the writer and time of publication can help us understand the perspective of the writer.
- Asking questions about the genre, audience and publication can help understand the writer’s intentions.
- Analysing non-fiction is important because it helps us understand why information is being offered to us in that way.
- Developing a personal response is important because it helps us to see how the text fits with our world view.
Keywords
Non-fiction - prose writing that is informative or factual rather than fictional
Predict - say or estimate that (a specified thing) will happen in the future or will be a consequence of something
Prose - written or spoken language in its ordinary form, without metrical structure
Informative - providing useful or interesting information
Personal response - reflection of one's thoughts, feelings, and opinions on a particular topic or piece of literature
Common misconception
That you don't need to analyse non-fiction texts - just absorb the information.
Analysing non-fiction texts is essential because it helps us understand who is offering us this information and why are they offering it to us.
Teacher tip
It would be useful for pupils to highlight or make a note of the questions in LC1 so that they can apply them to future non-fiction texts.
Equipment
You will need a copy of 'My struggle with a tiger' by Charles Jamrach and 'Gorilla recaptured after escape from London zoo' by Kevin Rawlinson which can both be found in the additional materials.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.'Prose writing that is informative or factual rather than fictional' is the definition of?
Q2.A text that provides useful or interesting information is the definition of which word beginning with 'I'?
Q3.Complete this sentence: If a writer uses "I", it suggests that the text is written in person.'
Q4.Which reading skill can help you before reading a complex text?
Q5.Complete this sentence to fill the blanks: Contextual information can include; __________, __________ and _________.
Q6.In a first-person narrative, which pronoun is typically used to refer to the narrator?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the below can be helpful in predicting what an article is going to be about?
Q2.'Reflection of one's thoughts, feelings, and opinions on a particular topic or piece of literature' is the definition of a response.
Q3.Which of the following factors might contribute to the implication that Jamrach may want to portray himself as brave in his encounter with a tiger in the article 'My Struggle with Tiger'?
Q4.'Written or spoken language in its ordinary form, without metrical structure' is the definition of .
Q5.Rawlinson's article, 'Gorilla recaptured after escape...', is written over a hundred years after Jamrach's 'Tiger' article - how do you think this might affect attitudes towards animals in captivity?
Q6.Which of the following factors from Rawlinson's article, 'Gorilla recaptured after escape...', might suggest a less emotional, personal response to the animals?
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Developing reading skills and personal responses to non-fiction texts, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Developing reading skills and personal responses to non-fiction 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 4 English lessons from the Non-fiction: changing views unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.