Lesson video

Hi everybody.

I'm Ms. Gardner.

Thank you so much for coming to join us on our second lesson of our unit on the Non-Chronological Report about the Portia Spider.

I'm really excited to be helping you with your learning today.

So let's get started.

Our second lesson on our unit on the Non-Chronological Report about the Portia Spider is identifying the linguistic features of a non-chronological report.

This builds on our learning from our first lesson where we looked at the structural features.

So your learning outcome today is I can identify the linguistic features of a non-chronological report.

Our key words for this lesson are, we're going to do my turn, your turn, I'll say the word first, and then you can say either back to the screen or to your teacher or to your partner, depending on where you are, linguistic feature, subject-specific vocabulary, expanded noun phrase, formal fronted adverbial, and viewpoint fronted adverbial.

Don't worry if these feel unfamiliar.

We're gonna go through them in detail throughout the lesson, but let's have a look at their definitions.

A linguistic feature is a structure of language that uses words.

Subject-specific vocabulary is the vocabulary used when writing about a particular subject.

An expanded noun phrase is a group of words with no verb that adds extra detail to a noun.

A formal fronted adverbial is a sentence starter followed by a comma that is formal in tone and often found in non-fiction texts.

And a viewpoint fronted adverbial is a sentence starter that gives the writer's point of view.

So there are two sections to our lessons today on the linguistic features of a non-chronological report.

First, we'll be looking at vocabulary, and then we'll be looking at linguistic features.

So let's get started with the vocabulary.

Language in a non-chronological report is formal.

For example, the portia spider is known for its advanced hunting strategies and its ability to eat spiders three times its size.

The vocabulary is factual and related to the subject of the report.

So in our case, the vocabulary is related to the portia spider and its environment.

So for example, the predator has venomous fangs that it uses to attack its prey.

You'll see we're not using descriptive adjectives or figurative language.

It is formal and factual.

So let's check for understanding.

True or false? This is an appropriate sentence for a non-chronological report.

The villainous spider hunted slyly as the moon shone in the starry sky.

Pause the video here.

That is false.

Can you use a or b to justify your answer? a, language in a non-chronological report is factual, or b, language in a non-chronological report is descriptive and figurative.

Pause the video here and have a think.

That is correct.

It is a.

It wouldn't be b.

We wouldn't have descriptive and figurative language in a non-chronological report.

That is the kind of language we save for descriptive and narrative writing.

So expanded noun phrases.

Expanded noun phrases allow us to add extra detail and information about a noun.

An expanded noun phrase can be formed of two listed adjectives before a noun.

So it could look like this: an adjective , an adjective noun.

For example, for talking about the portia spider, the long, sharp fangs or the minuscule, intelligent spider.

What's really important to remember when using an expanded noun phrase is that it does not contain a verb because it is a phrase not a clause.

Let's have a look at these in sentences because an expanded noun phrase packs lots of information into a sentence about the noun.

So our expanded noun phrase here, the long, sharp fangs.

Let's see it in a sentence.

The portia spider's long, sharp fangs allow it to pierce its prey.

Or the brown, prickly fur.

The portia spider's brown, prickly fur allows it to camouflage in its surroundings.

The expanded noun phrase is a great way to add extra detail about the noun.

So let's just check our understanding here.

Which of these is an expanded noun phrase? Is it a, the curious, happy dog jumped at its owner, b, a small, excitable dog, or c, a dog sat in the corner of the room? Pause the video here and think about which one is an expanded noun phrase.

That's correct.

It is b.

a cannot be an expanded noun phrase because it contains the verb jumped.

And c can also not be an expanded noun phrase because it contains the verb sat.

Well done, everybody.

Okay, it is time for Task A, our first practise task of this lesson, and we're gonna be looking at the vocabulary.

In this task, you need to tick the sentences that would be found in a non-chronological report about the portia spider.

I recommend that you say the sentences out loud before to help you decide.

So a, interestingly, the minuscule, intelligence spider can camouflage itself.

b, with a cruel look in its eye, the evil creature attacked its enemy.

c, however, the portia spider cannot poison humans.

Or d, as silent as a mouse, the beast creeps slightly behind the innocent insect.

Pause the video now and off you go and have a go at completing Task A.

Great effort, everybody.

Let's go through the answers.

Which ones would you find in a non-chronological report? a, you would find a in a non-chronological report.

It's formal and factual.

You would not find b in a non-chronological report as it's a lot more descriptive.

c would be found in a non-chronological report.

Again, it is formal and factual.

d would not be found in a non-chronological report because it starts with a simile-as silent as a mouse.

That is something that we would use in descriptive writing.

Well done, everyone, for all your effort with Task A.

It's now time to move on to our second section of our lesson, looking at the linguistic features.

A fronted adverbial is a sentence data followed by a comma.

Each type of fronted adverbial has a different purpose.

And fronted adverbials are used by writers because they improve text flow.

They help make your overall piece of writing more coherent.

Formal fronted adverbials are formal in tone.

There are different groups of formal fronted adverbials.

First, we have our "and" formal fronted adverbials.

And we also have our "but" formal fronted adverbials.

Let's have a look at these in a bit more detail.

Our "and" formal fronted adverbials include: also, in addition, and additionally.

These all build on a point from the previous sentence.

Let's have a look at this in an example.

The portia spider likes to eat other spiders.

Also, it is able to eat spiders that are up to three times its size.

Also is your formal fronted adverbial, and it comes at the start of your second sentence and it stretches that idea about the portia spider liking to eat other spiders over two sentences.

You could also use in addition.

The portia spider likes to eat other spiders.

In addition, it is able to eat spiders that are up to three times its size.

And you could also use additionally.

The portia spider likes to eat other spiders.

Additionally, it is able to eat spiders that are up to three times its size.

You'll notice all of the formal fronted adverbials are followed by a comma.

Let's check for understanding here.

True or false? An "and" formal fronted adverbial builds on a point from the previous sentence.

Pause the video here and have a think.

That's correct.

It is true.

Can you use a or b to justify your answer? a, there are different formal fronted adverbials, or b, "and" formal fronted adverbials are used to stretch one point over more than one sentence.

Pause the video here.

That's correct.

It is b.

True, a is true.

There are different formal fronted adverbials, but more specifically, b.

Because we use formal fronted adverbials to stretch one point over two sentences or more than two sentences.

"But" formal fronted adverbials.

These include: however, and in contrast.

And we use these to introduce a contrasting idea from the previous sentence.

So let's see what I mean.

The portia spider has lethal fangs to kill other spiders.

However, it cannot kill humans.

However is a formal fronted adverbial that starts our second sentence, and it introduces a contrasting idea from the previous sentence.

So although the portia spider has lethal fangs to kill spiders, it cannot kill humans.

Let's have a look at another example.

The portia spider has lethal fangs to kill other spiders.

In contrast, its eyes are not a particularly lethal feature of its body.

In contrast is our formal fronted adverbial, which comes at the start of our second sentence.

We use it to introduce a contrasting idea.

Let's check for understanding then.

Formal fronted adverbials, a, are followed by a comma, b, are formal in tone, or c, mark the end of a sentence.

Pause the video here.

Correct.

It is a and b.

Really well done everybody.

Moving on now to viewpoint fronted adverbials.

A viewpoint fronted adverbial is a sentence starter but it gives the writer's point of view.

A point of view is what someone thinks about a point or a fact.

When writing a non-chronological report, as a writer, you want the reader to find the point as interesting as you do.

So these viewpoint fronted adverbials include: amazingly, and interestingly.

And they tell the reader the writer's point of view or their opinion about point.

Let's have a look at it in a sentence.

Amazingly, the fascinating creature has two sticky, venomous fangs that it uses to attack its prey.

You can see the viewpoint fronted adverbial "amazingly" comes at the start of your sentence and it tells the reader that the writer thinks this point is amazing.

And interestingly, the arachnid uses camouflage to blend in with the natural surroundings of its environment.

Again, "interestingly", your viewpoint fronted adverbial, comes at the start of the sentence and it makes the reader think that the point that they're about to read is really interesting.

So let's check for understanding here.

True or false? Viewpoint fronted adverbials tell the reader the writer's opinion.

Pause the video now.

That's correct.

It is true.

Can you use a or b to justify your answer? a, a point of view as someone's opinion about something, or b, a viewpoint fronted adverbial builds on from a previous sentence.

Pause the video here.

That's correct.

It is a.

A viewpoint fronted adverbial doesn't build on from a previous sentence.

That's the job of an "and" formal fronted adverbial.

It is time now for Task B.

You need to fill in the blanks with the most appropriate fronted adverbial.

You've got four options: amazingly, however, in addition, and interestingly.

And you'll see there's a line in each sentence where there's a space for you to fill in a fronted adverbial.

I'm gonna read the sentences now and I'm gonna say blank where you need to insert an appropriate fronted adverbial.

Number one, the portia spider is only half a centimetre long.

Blank it's known as one of the smallest arachnids in the world.

Two.

Blank the portia spider can eat spiders three times its own size.

Three.

The creature is able to kill.

Blank it cannot kill humans.

And number four.

Blank the portia spider can see in 3D.

Pause the video now and have a go at filling in the blanks with the most appropriate fronted adverbial.

Okay, well done everyone.

We're gonna go through the answers.

These are the fronted adverbials I thought were the most appropriate in each sentence.

The portia spider is only half a centimetre long.

In addition, it is known as one of the smallest arachnids in the world.

Building on the point from the first sentence, using in addition.

Number two.

Amazingly, the portia spider can eat spiders three times its own size.

I'm using the viewpoint fronted adverbial "amazingly" 'cause I think that's amazing.

Number three.

The creature is able to kill.

However, it cannot kill humans.

And finally, number four.

Interestingly, the portia spider can see in 3D.

Well done everybody on Task B.

You've worked really hard.

Okay, we are now going to identify key features of a non-chronological report.

We're gonna do an example one together, and then you're gonna go off and do it by yourself on the final task.

So you'll see here we've got a section of a non-chronological report about the portia spider.

This section is all about the appearance.

In green, I've got some of the key features of a non-chronological report, and I'm going to label them with the names of that feature.

So for example, appearance at the top of our section is underlined.

So that is our subheading.

Interestingly followed by a comma is our viewpoint fronted adverbial.

In addition, which builds on a point from the previous sentence, is a formal fronted adverbial.

Okay, now it's time for your turn to identify some key features in this section of a non-chronological report.

There are four features for you to identify and label.

So pause the video now and have a go.

Okay, let's go through this together.

So diet, which is at the start of our section and is underlined, is our subheading.

Intelligent, unique creature is an expanded noun phrase.

However is a formal fronted adverbial.

And finally, amazingly is a viewpoint fronted adverbial.

Really well done everybody, and I hope this is gonna help you with your final task of today's lesson.

So in Task C, you need to identify these linguistic features in the section of a report about pandas this time.

You're looking for a subheadings, formal fronted adverbial, a viewpoint fronted adverbial, and an expanded noun phrase.

The features you are identifying are in green, so you just need to label them on the task sheet.

Pause the video now and off you go.

Well done everybody.

Let's go through these answers together.

So our diet at the start of the section was a subheading.

"Amazingly," a viewpoint fronted adverbial.

Large, unique bears was an expanded noun phrase.

And however is a formal fronted adverbial.

Well done everybody.

You worked really hard on this task.

So here's a summary of everything you have learned in today's lesson.

Language in a non-chronological report is formal and subject-specific.

There are different types of formal fronted adverbials that add extra detail to the rest of the sentence.

A viewpoint fronted adverbial is a sentence starter that gives the writer's point of view.

And an expanded noun phrase is two adjectives listed to describe a noun.

Well done for all your hard work today, and I'll see you in the next lesson.