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Year 11
AQA

Using compound adjectives and analogies for effect in non-fiction writing

I can use compound adjectives and analogies to create specific effects in my writing.

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Year 11
AQA

Using compound adjectives and analogies for effect in non-fiction writing

I can use compound adjectives and analogies to create specific effects in my writing.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Compound adjectives are highly effective in your writing.
  2. Compound adjectives are created by combining multiple words.
  3. Compound adjectives help to add precision and vivid description to your writing.
  4. Analogies are a way of comparing two things in order to make your point both clear and imaginative.

Keywords

  • Participial adjective - a past participle e.g. \"delighted\" that is being used as an adjective

  • Hyphen - this punctuation mark - used between two words

  • Precise - exactly or sharply defined or stated

  • Abstract - existing in thought or as an idea

  • Concrete - existing in a material or physical form

Common misconception

Students may confuse analogies with other comparative based figures of speech such as simile and metaphor.

Encourage students to think of students as an extended example and the core purpose is explanation not the evocation of associations and related imagery.


To help you plan your year 11 english lesson on: Using compound adjectives and analogies for effect in non-fiction writing, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Give students a range of starters e.g. XXX is similar to ... and a range of unlikely analogies. Then they can argue why they are similar.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following best explains the function of adjectives?
Correct answer: they modify nouns by adding more information
they describe where a noun is positioned
they describe how an action is performed
they demarcate the beginning of sentences
Q2.
In the word 'open-minded' what is the correct term for the punctuation found in the middle?
Correct answer: hyphen
dash
apostrophe
hashtag
Q3.
Which of the following is a past participle?
jump
Correct answer: jumped
jumping
jumper
Q4.
What do we mean when we talk about word classes?
categories of words grouped by similar meanings
categories of words grouped by similar sounds
Correct answer: categories of words grouped by grammatical function
categories of words grouped by similar effects
Q5.
What linguistic device beginning with M compares two things?
Correct Answer: metaphor, a metaphor
Q6.
Which word beginning with S describes a method which compares two things using like or as?
Correct Answer: simile, a simile

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the words on the left with their synonyms on the right.
Correct Answer:abstract,theoretical
tick

theoretical

Correct Answer:concrete,physical
tick

physical

Correct Answer:precise ,exact
tick

exact

Correct Answer:enhance,improve
tick

improve

Q2.
What do we call an adjective that is made up of two or more words?
Correct Answer: compound adjective, a compound adjective, compound
Q3.
What combination of word classes makes the following compound adjective 'bitter-sweet'?
noun+adjective
Correct answer: adjective+adjective
adjective+participial adjective
number+noun
Q4.
Which of the following is the best description of an analogy?
Correct answer: a comparison between two different things in order to clarify or explain.
a statement that is contradictory but which nonetheless reveals a truth
a figure of speech in which an object is used to represent an idea
the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words
Q5.
Analogies can be effective because they ...
are unusual and similar to metaphors.
Correct answer: they make abstract ideas into concrete realities.
Correct answer: they are often visually powerful and aid understanding.
they are difficult to create and therefore impressive.
Q6.
In the following analogy, which words are making the comparison: The school prom reminds me of diving off the highest board at the pool. You get all worked up about it and then it's over in minutes.
The school prom
Correct answer: reminds me of
You get all worked up
over in minutes