Lesson video

Hi everybody.

My name is Ms. Mullins.

I'm really looking forward to the learning we're gonna do today in our English lesson, and I'm so glad that you made the choice to come here today.

So let's get started.

The outcome for today's lesson will be that by the end of the lesson, you will be able to identify the features of a non-chronological report.

In our lesson today, we're going to be using some key words.

Let's share them now.

non-chronological report, purpose, audience, language, layout.

Well done everybody.

A non-chronological report is a non-fiction text that informs about a subject or event and that is written out of time order.

Purpose is the aim of a text.

Audience is the person or people who read a text.

Language is the type of words and tone used in a text.

Layout is the way a text is structured.

In our lesson today, we are going to be identifying the features of a non-chronological report, in preparation for writing about aye-ayes.

We will follow through two learning cycles.

Firstly, we will be learning about the layout of non-chronological reports.

Then we will explore the linguistic features of a non-chronological report.

So let's get started with looking at the layout of non-chronological reports.

Non-chronological reports often follow the same structure.

They have a title, an introduction, section one, section two, and a conclusion.

The introduction is the first paragraph that encourages the reader to read on.

The sections contain paragraphs of information related to a particular aspect of the subject.

The conclusion is the last paragraph that summarises the key information in a text.

The purpose is to inform the reader about one subject.

The audience is anyone interested in learning about the subject.

The layout helps the reader learn about the subject.

Now we're going to do a quick check, match the words to the definitions and pause the video while you do that, good luck everyone.

Well done everybody for having a go.

Our introduction is the first paragraph, the sections are paragraphs of information related to a particular aspect of the subject, and the conclusion is the last paragraph.

Well done everybody.

Now it's time for us to have a go at task A.

Read the non-chronological report in the additional materials.

There are four questions for you to answer.

Number one: What is the title? Number two: What is the first paragraph called? Number three: Give an example of a subheading in this report.

And number four: What is the last paragraph called? Pause the video while you complete task A and I'll see you soon.

We're going to read through the non-chronological report together.

Crocodiles and alligators.

Introduction: Crocodiles and alligators belong to a group of reptiles named 'crocodilians'.

Fascinatingly these fierce carnivores, meet eating animals are almost unchanged from their ancient ancestors who first walked the Earth approximately 160 million years ago.

In this report you will learn about these reptiles' interesting behaviour and adaptations.

How do crocodiles care for their young? Notably, crocodiles make much better parents than many other reptiles.

A female Nile crocodile lays up to 75 eggs, and she carefully buries them under the sand in the river bank.

In addition to this, she guards them for up to three months until they hatch, then she carries them down to the river in her mouth.

Interestingly, this unique reptile continues to care for her young, protecting them from predators for the first few weeks of their lives.

How fast are alligators? Alligators, such as the American alligator can run quickly on land, reaching speeds of up to 18km per hour.

However, they are even faster when they swim through water.

Of significant interest, crocodilians' powerful streamlined bodies are used to their advantage when moving through water.

They tuck their legs under their bodies and swish their strong tails from side to side.

As a result, these creatures can travel up to 32km per hour in water, making them dangerous predators.

Conclusion: To conclude, these prehistoric reptiles, which have walked the earth for many 1,000s of years are fascinating creatures.

Despite this, as a result of mass deforestation, many crocodile and alligator species are endangered.

Consequently, it is vital that humanity works harder to protect crocodilians and all species to ensure that generations of humans to come will benefit from learning about their behaviours and adaptations.

Well done everybody for completing task A.

Now we're going to feed back the answers.

Number one: What is the title? Crocodiles and Alligators.

Number two: What is the first paragraph called? Introduction.

Number three: Give an example of a subheading in this report.

You could have written: How do crocodile care for their young or How fast are alligators? Number four: What is the last paragraph called? Conclusion.

Well done everybody for completing task A.

I'm so impressed.

That brings us on to our second learning cycle of this lesson, where we will be exploring the linguistic features of non-chronological reports.

There are a number of linguistic features in non-chronological reports: subject-specific vocabulary, formal tone, fronted adverbials.

Linguistic features are types of words and language that a writer chooses carefully.

Subject-specific vocabulary is words and phrases about the subject of the report.

These words and phrases are factual and specific.

They help to create a formal tone.

For example: reptile, adaptation, behaviour, endangered.

All of these are examples of subject-specific vocabulary that you just read in the example for task A.

Which two of these words are subject-specific to crocodiles? Predator, cunning, or carnivore.

Well done if you spotted predator and carnivore.

Cunning is not a word that is subject-specific to crocodiles.

It may appear in a narrative, but not in a nonfiction writing outcome about crocodiles.

Another linguistic feature in non-chronological reports is the fronted adverbial.

We will be talking about fronted adverbials a lot throughout the rest of our lesson.

There are different types of fronted adverbial, formal fronted adverbials viewpoint fronted adverbials and fronted adverbials of cause.

They all follow the same rule.

They start a sentence and a comma follows them.

Here is a sentence scaffold to help you.

At the front of the sentence is a fronted adverbial, then a comma after the fronted adverbial and then the rest of the sentence follows the comma.

True or false? A fronted adverbial goes at the end of a sentence? Pause the video while you complete our check.

We are absolutely right if you spotted false.

Now justify your answer.

A fronted adverbial goes at the start of a sentence or a fronted adverbial goes at the start of a sentence and it is followed by a comma.

Pause the video while you decide.

Well done everyone.

A fronted adverbial goes at the start of a sentence, and it is followed by a comma.

A formal fronted adverbial starts a sentence and it is followed by a comma.

We can see that in our scaffold.

It is formal in tone and it links one sentence to the previous sentence.

Formal fronted adverbials can be grouped into two categories, 'and', and 'but'.

We can have these on our hands to remind ourselves that they are both types of formal fronted adverbials, however, they both have different functions.

An 'and' formal fronted adverbial builds on a point from the previous sentence.

For example, crocodile's ears are covered by small flaps of skin, which can be closed to make their ears water tight.

In addition to this, their nostrils have special muscles that can close them in water.

In addition to this builds on the first sentence, and formal fronted adverbial build on the point from the previous sentence.

Here are a few that we could use in our non-chronological report: In addition to this, As well as this, Also, Furthermore, Moreover, Building on to this.

Well done.

A 'but' formal fronted adverbial introduces a contrasting idea to the previous sentence.

For example, crocodiles are one of the earth's most ancient species.

Despite this, there are still features of these reptiles that zoologists are continuing to discover today.

Despite this, shows that the second sentence gives a contrasting idea to the first sentence.

Here are some 'but' formal fronted adverbials we could use in our non-chronological report: However, Despite this, On the contrary, In contrast to this.

Well done everybody.

So we can put our 'and' fronted adverbials on one hand, and our 'but' formal fronted adverbials on the other hand to show that although they're the same, they follow the same rules, they start a sentence and they're followed by a comma.

Our 'and' formal fronted adverbials build on from the previous sentence, whilst our 'but' formal fronted adverbials show a contrasting idea to the previous sentence.

They have different functions.

Which formal fronted adverbial fills the gap best? Alligator scales help protect their delicate inner organs.

Hmm, their scales enable them to be camouflaged, which aids to their hunting.

Is it A, On the contrary or B, Moreover? Pause the video while you decide.

Well done.

You're correct, it is B, Moreover.

Let's read the whole two sentences.

Alligator scales help protect their delicate inner organs.

Moreover, their scales enable them to be camouflaged, which aids their hunting.

A fronted adverbial of cause is a sentence starter that tells the reader the cause and effect of something.

It follows the same rules as the formal fronted adverbial.

It is formal in tone.

It links one sentence to the previous sentence, and it starts a sentence and is followed by a comma.

You can use the same sentence scaffold we have already seen.

A cause brings about another event or action.

An effect is the event or action that happens because of the cause.

Mass deforestation is occurring in Africa.

Crocodilians are classed as 'endangered'.

The cause is that mass deforestation is happening in Africa.

The effect of this is that crocodilians are classed as 'endangered'.

We can use a formal fronted adverbial of cause to link the cause sentence to the effect sentence.

Mass deforestation is occurring in Africa, that's the cause.

Consequently, crocodile and alligators are classed as 'endangered'.

That's the effect.

Our fronted adverbial of cause in these two sentences is consequently.

Match the words to the definitions.

Pause the video while you do this.

Well done.

An effect happens because of another event or action.

A cause brings about another event or action.

There are different fronted adverbial of cause to use: As a result, Consequently, Therefore, Due to this.

Well done.

We can use these fronted adverbial of cause to link different sentences.

Let's read these sentences all together, starting with the example we saw already.

Mass deforestation is occurring in Africa.

Consequently, crocodiles and alligators are classed as 'endangered'.

Well done.

Let's do another one.

Mass deforestation is occurring in Africa.

Therefore, crocodiles and alligators are classed as 'endangered'.

Mass deforestation is occurring in Africa.

Due to this, crocodiles and alligators are classed as 'endangered'.

Mass deforestation is occurring in Africa.

As a result, crocodiles and alligators are classed as 'endangered'.

Well done.

Select which fronted adverbial is correct.

Crocodiles and alligators have sharp teeth.

Hmm, they are able to eat their prey easily.

Is it A Due to this, B, However, or C, Furthermore.

Pause the video while you decide.

Well done.

If you spotted that it was A, due to this.

Let's read these two sentences together.

Crocodiles and alligators have sharp teeth.

Due to this, they are able to eat their prey easily.

A was the correct answer because it is a fronted adverbial of cause.

The other two, however, and furthermore are formal fronted adverbials.

Now we're going to learn about viewpoint fronted adverbial.

A viewpoint fronted aerial is a sentence starter that tells the reader the writer's point of view.

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

A writer of a non-chronological report wants the reader to find their facts as interesting as they do! A viewpoint fronted adverbial follows some rules of the others.

It is formal in tone and It starts a sentence and is followed by a comma.

We can use the same scaffold we have seen before.

There are different viewpoint fronted adverbial we can use: Of significant interest, Of particular interest, Intriguingly, Fascinatingly.

Well done.

These are for very interesting facts.

We could also use Impressively, good, this is for facts that make you think, 'wow'! we could also use: Notably, Significantly.

Very good, these are for facts that are important.

Viewpoint fronted adverbials can introduce a brand new fact.

Different viewpoint fronted adverbials are useful at different times.

Let's see a few examples we might find in a non-chronological report about crocodiles and alligators.

Let's read these sentences together.

Crocodiles are complex creatures.

Fascinatingly, they have walked the Earth longer than any other creature.

Of significant interest, crocodiles' teeth can be regenerated throughout their lifetime.

Notably, threats to crocodiles' habitats and impact on their food chain have resulted in them being classified as 'endangered'.

Impressively, Nile crocodiles have the strongest bite force in the animal kingdom - approximately 30 times stronger than a human.

Which of these are viewpoint fronted adverbial? A, As a result, B, Of particular interest.

C, Fascinatingly, D, However.

Pause the video while you decide.

Well done.

If you spotted that B, of particular interest and C, fascinatingly are viewpoint fronted adverbials.

As as a result is an example of a fronted adverbial of cause, however, is an example of a formal fronted adverbial.

Re-read the non-chronological report in the additional materials.

It's the same one that you looked at for task A.

This time answer the four questions on the screen.

Number one, Write five examples of subject specific vocabulary from the text.

Number two, Give two examples of 'and' or 'but' formal fronted adverbials used.

Number three, What are two examples of fronted adverbials of cause in the text? And number four, Fascinatingly and interestingly are examples of which fronted adverbial? Pause the video while you do that.

Well done everybody.

Let's go through our answers.

Five examples of subject specific vocabulary from the text.

You could have included any of these words.

Reptiles, carnivores, predators, speeds, 32km, deforestation, endangered, crocodilians, behaviours, adaptations.

Well done if you use any of those.

Number two, Give two examples of 'and' or 'but' formal fronted adverbials from the text.

You could have used: In addition to this.

However, Despite this.

Number three, What are two examples of fronted adverbial of cause used? You could have used As a result or Consequently.

And number four, 'Fascinatingly,' and 'Interestingly,' are examples of which fronted adverbial? They are viewpoint fronted adverbials because they express the writer's point of view.

Well done everyone.

I'm so impressed with how well you got on with that task.

Now we're going to summarise the learning from our lesson today, where we were identifying the features of a non-chronological report.

A non-chronological report is a type of non-fiction text.

The purpose of a non-chronological report is to inform the reader about a particular subject.

Information in a non-chronological report is organised using a title, subheadings and paragraphs.

Linguistic features help to introduce, link and bring to life specific, factual information.

Well done everybody.

I am so impressed with the learning that you have done today.

If you would like to continue with your learning, you can have a go at our exit quiz.

I'm looking forward to seeing you for our next lesson.

Well done everyone.