Hello and welcome to today's lesson.

My name is Ms. Watson, and I'm delighted that you have decided to join me today for another lesson about that fantastic novel, "The Twisted Tree." Today what we are going to be looking at is how you select the right kind of quotations for when you want to talk about and write about "The Twisted Tree." You are going to need a copy of the novel, and it's best that you have the 2019 edition, it's published by Hot Key Books.

Having that edition will make it so much easier when I am giving you page references.

So when you have your book and you are ready, we'll make a start.

So the outcome of today's lesson is that you will be able to select excellent quotations when you are planning writing on "The Twisted Tree." As I wrote, we will begin with the key words.

You see there are four words and phrases that we are going to be using in today's lesson.

Words and phrases that will really help unlock your learning today.

So the first one is thesis.

Now a thesis is an idea that you develop and maintain throughout an essay.

The topic sentence, that is the first sentence of a paragraph, and its function is to state that paragraph's main idea.

And then you have main quotations.

These are ones that support your topic sentence and that require analysis.

And then you have supporting quotations, which they support your topic sentence, but you aren't going to be analysing them.

Now, if you would like a little bit more time to familiarise yourself with the key words, please feel free to pause the video, and then rejoin the lesson when you're ready.

Here we have the outline of today's lesson.

We are going to start by looking at topic sentences, and then we are going to move on and practise selecting the right quotations.

So now I'm going to share with you what today's question is going to be.

You're going to plan an answer to this question.

How does Burge create a mysterious and terrifying atmosphere in "The Twisted Tree?" Here is one of Izzy's initial ideas.

The mysterious atmosphere is created by Burge's frequent use of Norse mythology.

Really interesting idea there.

Now, what I would like you to do is to discuss what are some of your initial ideas in response to the question.

I'd like you to pause the video while you have that discussion, and if you are working by yourself, to pause the video and just make a few notes.

Off you go.

Welcome back.

Well done.

What an interesting discussion.

And you have lots of ideas to work with.

So using her initial idea, Izzy writes an introduction, and the introduction follows a three part structure, and I'd like to unpick that structure with you.

So the first sentence.

"'The Twisted Tree' by Rachel Burge is a suspenseful novel that creates a mysterious and terrifying atmosphere." And here Izzy has made a general statement, which helps the reader understand the text.

And then she goes on.

"In particular, the atmosphere becomes increasingly mysterious as the story progresses." So there we have a more general statement about the atmosphere that is relevant to the question, and she finishes that paragraph by writing, "Burge uses Norse mythology to add depth and intrigue to the story, weaving ancient myths into the narrative to heighten the sense of unease." And there we have her specific thesis, which is that is the use of Norse mythology that helps create that mysterious and terrifying atmosphere.

And that specific thesis can be developed in the rest of the essay.

So using the three part structure, I'd like you to write your own introduction to a different question, this question.

"How does Burge present Martha as a heroic character?" Remember, you need the general statement about the whole text, then you need a general statement about the given character or theme, and then you need the specific thesis.

So pause the video while you do that, and then return and we will share some ideas.

So I'm gonna give you Lucas's example, and then I would like you to use it to self-assess the structure of your own introduction.

So this is what Lucas wrote for the general statement about the whole text.

"In the Twisted Tree, Burge presents Martha as a heroic character through her resilience and of moral courage," and the general statement about the given character or theme he wrote, "Throughout the text, Martha consistently faces supernatural challenges and personal trials with unwavering determination." And then the specific thesis, "Burge specifically portrays Martha's heroism by highlighting her selfless acts to protect others and her bravery in confronting the malevolent forces that threaten her loved ones." So self-assess your own introduction to make sure you have those three stages in it.

Pause the video while you do that, and then return to me for the rest of the lesson.

So back to Izzy.

Now after writing her introduction to the question, "How does Burge create a mysterious and terrifying atmosphere in 'The Twisted Tree?'", Izzy draughts three topic sentences, and she reminds herself that a topic sentence explains the focus of an individual paragraph, and a topic sentence maintains and develops the thesis.

So here is one of Izzy's topic sentences.

"Burge presents the twisted tree as scary, particularly when it is seen by Martha at night." And why doesn't Izzy's topic sentence meet her criteria? This is what her thesis is, that it uses.

Her thesis is that Burge uses Norse mythology to add depth and intrigue to the story, weaving ancient myths into the narrative to heighten the sense of unease.

So why doesn't it meet the criteria? Pause the video and have that discussion or pause the video and just make a few notes.

Well, well done for spotting that actually, she has forgotten.

It's almost like she's forgotten that her thesis is about Norse mythology.

No mention of it in the topic sentence.

So she redrafts her topic sentence.

This is the first draught.

"Burge presents "The Twisted Tree" as scary, particularly when it is seen by Martha at night." And this is her second draught.

"Burge's presentation of "The Twisted Tree" is heavily influenced by Norse myths, helping to create its sense of mystery to Martha." Pause the video and discuss why it now meets the criteria.

Well done.

We've got the ancient myths, and we've got heightening the sense of unease.

Very well done.

Let's move on.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Which of the following is the strongest topic sentence answering the question, "How does Burge present Martha as a heroic character?" Is it A, Burge uses lots of quotations to present Martha as heroic? B, despite her youth, Burge presents Martha as a fearless warrior able to capably defeat the draugr? C, there is lots of dialogue in the book which really highlights Martha's heroic side.

Have a think.

Make your choice.

Did you say B? That's right.

It really focuses in on Martha, and how Burge presents Martha.

Let's move on.

Now, I would like you to have a discussion and the question is this.

"How does Burge create a mysterious and terrifying atmosphere in 'The Twisted Tree?'" And I want you to use these thought stems to develop your ideas.

Here's one.

"For me Burge creates a terrifying atmosphere most effectively by.

." And "I disagree, I think it is actually when she.

." And what you are aiming to do here is to be able to explain the overall idea for a paragraph.

Pause the video while you have that discussions, or if you are working by yourself, pause the video and make a few notes.

Off you go.

Well done.

Welcome back.

I hope you enjoyed that discussion.

Now discussing our ideas in this way can be a really helpful way to develop topic sentences.

I'd like to share with you Izzy's example.

"For me, Burge's depiction of the draugr as a fearsome villain intensifies the story's sense of unease and enriches its supernatural elements." Let's unpick that example.

We can see that this explains the focus of an individual paragraph, and also that it maintains and develops the thesis, which is that myths are used in the story to heighten that sense of unease.

So well done for that great discussion.

Now we will move on.

So we've looked at topic sentences.

We've actually been able to look at topic sentences in a range of ways, and now we are going to look at how you select the right quotations.

So we're going to start with a paragraph written by Izzy, and I'm going to read the paragraph to you.

I'd like you to follow along.

And then you're going to look and discuss Izzy's use of quotations, why she picked them and why she analyses them.

But first, let's start with the paragraph.

"Burge's depiction of the draugr as a fearsome villain intensifies the story's sense of unease and enriches its supernatural elements.

When Martha first encounters the draugr, it is described with the adjectives putrid and rotting, which evoke a chilling image of death.

This terrifying portrayal is enhanced by Burge's use of Norse mythology, linking her draugr to the actual draugr of Norse mythology.

We see this when the draugr rises from a burial site, something the draugr from Norse mythology also does." So time for the discussion.

What do you notice about her use of quotations? Why do you think she picked them, the adjectives putrid and rotting? And does she analyse them all? Pause the video while you have that discussion, or pause the video and make a few notes if you're working by yourself.

Welcome back.

Let me share with you some observations that you may have made.

That Izzy analyses these quotations, that the evoke a chilling image of death.

And these quotations about the draugr arising from the burial site, she uses that quotation to prove her point, but she doesn't analyse it.

She doesn't pick the quotation apart.

And all of the quotations she uses support her topic sentence.

Let's move on.

Now, when writing a main body paragraph, the way you select and write about quotations is key to creating a convincing argument.

Your quotations should support your topic sentence, come from across the novel, and be divided into main quotations and supporting quotations.

Now the main quotations are the ones you will analyse, and the supporting quotations, you don't need to analyse them and you embed them in sentences.

Let's look at some quotations.

So we have corpse, howls, burial pile, rotting, decay, and claws, and they are all words associated with the draugr.

And I would like you to look at them, and decide which of those would be good as main quotations that could support deeper analysis about the draugr.

Words where you would want to dive into them and really pull apart their connotations and what they suggest.

So pause the video and have that discussion.

Or again, if you are working by yourself, pause the video and make a few notes.

So welcome back.

You might have said that howls and claws are really great quotes, which could be analysed in detail because they would help you explore the animalistic side of the draugr.

The claws highlighting the draugr's capacity for violence.

And the rest, corpse and burial pile and rotting and decay, they would be really great supporting quotations that really set the scene for analysis.

For example, you might say that Burge presents us to the rotting draugr early on in the novel.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Which of the statements below are true of quotations? A, they should come from across the text.

B, they should support your topic sentence.

C, they should be detailed and extensive.

Have a think.

Make your choice A and B, they should come from across the text, and they should support your topic sentence.

Quotations should be precise and concise and well chosen, not detailed and extensive.

Excellent if you got the right answers, let's move on.

Now it's over to you.

I would like you to prepare a planned paragraph to answer the question, "How does Burge create a mysterious and terrifying atmosphere in 'The Twisted Tree?'" I'd like you to ensure that you have a topic sentence as well as main quotations and supporting quotations that will support your idea.

You will need to use your copy of the text to support you with this.

So when you're ready, gather up your thoughts and your ideas and off you go and plan your paragraph.

Welcome back.

It's a big thumbs up from me for how well you focused in that task.

Now, before the end of the lesson, I would like you to take some time to self-assess your plan, use these coaching questions.

So did you identify your main quotations? Identify your supporting quotations? Identify how your main quotations develop the idea in your topic sentence? You will need to pause the video while you do a careful self-assessment of your plan.

So do that now and then rejoin me for the end of the lesson.

So before we say goodbye, I would like to summarise what you have been learning today.

You have been learning that topic sentences state a paragraph's main idea, and you have been learning that topic sentences should develop and maintain your thesis.

And you have been learning that each analytical paragraph should have at least two relevant quotations, and that you need to select main quotations and supporting quotations to include in a response.

And finally, you have been learning that main quotations should be analysed, and supporting quotations don't need to be analysed.

Once again, I would like to say thank you for coming to the lesson.

It's been a real pleasure to teach you today.

I wish you a brilliant rest of the day, and I look forward to seeing you again in another lesson.

Bye for now.