New
New
Year 6

Writing the first half of the build-up of 'Beowulf and the dragon'

I can write the first half of the build-up of ‘Beowulf and the dragon’, using a range of narrative elements and a range of cohesive devices to connect ideas.

New
New
Year 6

Writing the first half of the build-up of 'Beowulf and the dragon'

I can write the first half of the build-up of ‘Beowulf and the dragon’, using a range of narrative elements and a range of cohesive devices to connect ideas.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. As we write, we aim to include a range of narrative elements and to connect ideas using a range of cohesive devices.
  2. A range of types of complex sentence - adverbial, relative and non-finite (-ing) - can be used as cohesive devices.
  3. Colons and semi-colons are also useful cohesive devices.
  4. We can orally rehearse our ideas prior to writing in order to make it easier when we come to write.

Keywords

  • Narrative elements - the content of a narrative, often including action, description, dialogue and emotions

  • Cohesive devices - language structures that develop text cohesion

  • Complex sentence - a sentence formed of at least one main clause and a subordinate clause

  • Oral rehearsal - practising saying ideas for sentences out loud before you write them

Common misconception

Pupils may believe that their oral rehearsal has to be perfect or excessively detailed.

The oral rehearsal is a first attempt; it may not be perfect. It reduces the cognitive load when writing, allowing extra details to be added more easily.

A slide is left intentionally lined for you to complete shared writing with your class. Model considering different ways of connecting ideas with different cohesive devices. You can find lessons on every cohesive device in our grammar curriculum.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these examples of rich vocabulary could be used to describe the stronghold in 'Beowulf and the dragon'?
Correct answer: blackened
wind-whipped
bleak
Correct answer: smouldering
Q2.
Which of these examples of rich vocabulary could be used to describe parts of the dragon in 'Beowulf and the dragon'?
Correct answer: iridescent
Correct answer: barbed
incinerated
Correct answer: maw
Q3.
Which events below are part of the build-up of 'Beowulf and the dragon'?
Correct answer: the dragon burned the stronghold
Correct answer: Beowulf summoned a meeting
the warriors went to Denmark
Correct answer: the dragon left its cave
Q4.
What have we already done to prepare to write 'Beowulf and the dragon'?
Correct answer: planned the structure of our writing
Correct answer: planned the content of each paragraph
planned how every sentence will begin
Correct answer: planned some rich vocabulary to include
Correct answer: practised storytelling the events of the narrative
Q5.
Which of the following are narrative elements that we use in our writing?
Correct answer: action
colons
Correct answer: description
Correct answer: emotion
Correct answer: dialogue
Q6.
Which narrative element is used here? 'The dragon swooped low over the stronghold.'
Correct answer: action
description
emotion
dialogue

6 Questions

Q1.
Which narrative element is used here? 'The palisades were blackened and the charred remains of the mead-hall were still smouldering.'
emotion
Correct answer: description
dialogue
Q2.
Which narrative element is used here? 'The dragon swooped down from the sky, belching fire.'
Correct answer: action
description
emotion
Q3.
Which type of complex sentence is used as a cohesive device in the following sentence? 'Calling his warriors together, Beowulf explained that he would defeat the dragon alone.'
adverbial
relative
Correct answer: non-finite (-ing)
Q4.
Which type of complex sentence is used as a cohesive device in the following sentence? 'When neighbouring countries attacked, his warriors repelled them with ease.'
Correct answer: adverbial
relative
non-finite (-ing)
Q5.
In which of these sentences has the semi-colon been used correctly as a cohesive device?
Correct answer: The dragon was vast; its wings covered the shining moon.
The dragon was vast its wings covered; the shining moon.
The dragon was vast its wings; covered the shining moon.
Q6.
In which of these sentences has the colon been used correctly as a cohesive device?
Correct answer: Beowulf was furious: he knew he had let down his people.
Beowulf was furious he knew: he had let down his people.
Beowulf was furious he knew he had: let down his people.