Conceptualising voice in fiction texts
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can understand what is meant by voice in a narrative and consider how voice is crafted.
Key learning points
- Voice is the language a writer uses to convey a perspective or tell a story.
- Voice affects how we connect to and interpret the text.
- Voice can be crafted through syntax, punctuation, repetition and word choice.
- Voice can help shape a character's age, social class, mood, gender and the time period in which they are from in a text.
- Writers can craft a distinct voice to reveal people's differing reactions to the same scenario or event.
Keywords
Voice - the language a writer uses to communicate their perspective or a story
Distinct - recognisably different from something else
Perspective - the point of view a story is told from
Common misconception
A narrative written in the first person perspective conveys the writer's voice.
A narrative written in the first person perspective does not necessarily reflect the writer's voice but a construct.
Teacher tip
Take time to discuss narrative perspectives and voices in novels you have read as a class or even from your favourite novels. Talk about which voices are most memorable to you and pupils.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is narrative perspective?
Q2.Match the narrative perspective to the words that matches to this perspective.
I, my, we
you, yours
she, he, they
Q3.What is syntax?
Q4.What is narrative voice?
Q5.Which of these is an idiom?
Q6.Which of these is an imperative sentence?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What might a writer use to convey an anxious voice?
Q2.The word 'cool' is an informal word for 'good'. What type of word is 'remarkable' if it is used to mean 'good'?
Q3.What might the repeated use of question marks suggest about a voice?
Q4.What might use of imperatives convey about a voice?
Q5.Which of the below might reflect an erratic voice?
Q6.A voice can help best shape the reader's perception of ...
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: Conceptualising voice in fiction texts, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: Conceptualising voice in 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 Fiction: inner musings unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.