Withholding information and timing revelations
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain the narrative techniques of withholding information and timing revelations.
Key learning points
- Withholding information is a powerful narrative technique for increasing reader engagement.
- You can withhold information about the who, what, where, when and how of a story.
- Readers can respond in different ways to the withholding of information.
- Timing the revelation of the full information affects how your reader responds to the story.
Keywords
To withhold - to keep something back
To reveal - to make known or show something that was previously secret
Resourceful - skilled at solving problems and making decisions on your own
Resilience - the ability to continue to be happy and positive after something difficult or bad has happened
Common misconception
Students often think that they should show or tell the key details of a story immediately.
Encourage them to think about mysteries and thrillers which keep the identify of the villain secret.
Teacher tip
Avoid giving context about the book until they have read the extract. You want to keep alive the wonder about what is this amazing machine.
Equipment
You will need access to the Prologue to 'The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind' by William Kamkwamba.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following is the best synonym for suspense?
Q2.Which of the following is a synonym for 'secret'?
Q3.Which of the following is the best definition of the function of an adjective?
Q4.In the following sentence, which two words are adjectives: 'The old house creaked in the stormy wind.'?
Q5.What word beginning with 'A' describes a first person account of someone's life?
Q6.Which of the following is the best description of a 'twist' in a story?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.If you are able to recover and carry on after setbacks, you are...
Q2.Which of the following is the closest synonym for "resourceful"?
Q3.In which African country do the events of 'Harnessing the Wind' take place?
Q4.In 'Harnessing the Wind,' why does William Kamkwamba build a windmill?
Q5.Withholding information from the reader can increase their...
Q6.In a narrative, you can withhold information about who, how, when, what, where and ...
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: Withholding information and timing revelations, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: Withholding information and timing revelations, 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.
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