New
New
Year 5

Writing a narrative opening based on 'How To Train Your Dragon'

I can use a plan to write the opening of a narrative based on ‘How To Train Your Dragon’.

New
New
Year 5

Writing a narrative opening based on 'How To Train Your Dragon'

I can use a plan to write the opening of a narrative based on ‘How To Train Your Dragon’.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The purpose of the opening is to engage the reader and introduce characters and plot.
  2. Using a range of linguistic features helps achieve the text's purpose.
  3. We have learned about three types of complex sentence: adverbial, relative and non-finite.
  4. Using a range of sentence types in narrative writing enhances text cohesion and keeps the reader engaged.
  5. Powerful, precise vocabulary choices engage the reader and help create atmosphere.

Keywords

  • Atmosphere - the mood created in a section or the whole of a text

  • Linguistic features - structures of language that use words

  • Complex sentence - a sentence composed of a main clause and any type of subordinate clause

Common misconception

Pupils may not have a clear understanding of sentence types.

This is explicitly taught in Learning Cycle 1 and pupils are tasked with finding each type of complex sentence in a model opening.

Give pupils opportunities to share vocabulary ideas and add to a working wall of ambitious vocabulary in the classroom. Thesaurus work can also be useful for finding synonyms of certain words that will frequently occur in the opening.
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.
Select linguistic features appropriate for a narrative opening from the list:
subheading
Correct answer: adverbial detail
facts and statistics
Correct answer: precise vocabulary choices
Correct answer: a range of sentence types
Q2.
Select the adjectives most suitable to describe a dragon in this scene.
adorable
Correct answer: ferocious
naughty
Correct answer: deadly
Correct answer: bloodthirsty
Q3.
Identify the purpose of the opening.
explain a problem in detail
Correct answer: engage the reader
include quotes from eyewitnesses
Correct answer: introduce characters
Correct answer: introduce the plot
Q4.
Select the definition of a paragraph:
a word that describes a noun
a sentence punctuated with a capital letter and a full stop
Correct answer: a group of sentences that is indicated by a new line and an indentation
Q5.
A complex sentence is formed of a main clause and any type of...
main clause
co-ordinating conjunction
Correct answer: subordinate clause
adverbial phrase
Q6.
Identify the non-finite complex sentence from the list:
Dragons circled the island silently.
Correct answer: Brandishing the axe above his head, Hiccup was desperate to help.
The villagers fought bravely, but they were no match for the ferocious beasts.
As the dragons began their descent, the villagers woke from their slumber.

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to their definitions:
Correct Answer:atmosphere,the mood created in a section or the whole of a text

the mood created in a section or the whole of a text

Correct Answer:linguistic features,structures of language that use words

structures of language that use words

Correct Answer:complex sentence,a sentence formed of a main clause and any type of subordinate clause

a sentence formed of a main clause and any type of subordinate clause

Q2.
Order the plot events of the opening section.
1 - dragons approach the Isle of Berk
2 - dragons attack the Isle of Berk and the sheep
3 - villagers fight back
4 - Hiccup is introduced
Q3.
Match the sentence types to their examples.
Correct Answer:simple,Hiccup reached for a weapon.

Hiccup reached for a weapon.

Correct Answer:compound,The air was filled with smoke and villagers screamed in rage.

The air was filled with smoke and villagers screamed in rage.

Correct Answer:adverbial complex,As the dragons roared, flames erupted from their throats.

As the dragons roared, flames erupted from their throats.

Correct Answer:relative complex,Hiccup grabbed the first weapon he saw, which was a heavy crossbow.

Hiccup grabbed the first weapon he saw, which was a heavy crossbow.

Correct Answer:non-finite complex,Breathing fire, the dragons had bloodthirsty eyes on the villagers.

Breathing fire, the dragons had bloodthirsty eyes on the villagers.

Q4.
Identify the subordinating conjunction in this sentence: Chaos erupted whilst the ferocious beasts preyed on the villagers’ livestock.
chaos
erupted
Correct answer: whilst
ferocious
beasts
Q5.
Identifying the progressive verb in this non-finite complex sentence: Brave villagers fought the huge demons with all their might, howling in fury.
brave
villagers
fought
Correct answer: howling
fury
Q6.
Identify the relative pronoun in this relative complex sentence: With enraged roars, flames erupted from the dragons’ mouths, which engulfed homes in fiery destruction.
with
erupted
Correct answer: which
engulfed
fiery