Writing the opening of a journalistic report about the Titanic
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can write the opening of a journalistic report about the Titanic.
Key learning points
- The opening provides the reader with general information about the event.
- The opening includes when, where and what took place and what is currently happening.
- Writers use a range of cohesive devices to maintain the reader's interest and achieve text purpose.
- The purpose of the opening is to engage the reader and encourage them to read on.
Keywords
Opening - the first paragraph of a journalistic report
General information - the most basic, necessary information
Purpose - the aim of the text
Text cohesion - how a text flows to maintain the interest of the reader and achieve the text’s purpose
Parenthesis - additional information that is added to a sentence; if it is removed, the sentence still makes sense
Common misconception
Pupils may want to include facts that are too specific for the opening.
Make explicit and repeated reference to only including general information. Use the 5 Ws (who, what, where, when, why) to help embed this.
Teacher tip
Express that pupils can convey information in different orders; for example, one pupil may explain when, where and then what happened whilst another may start with what, when and then where it happened.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the linguistic features to their examples:
quayside
It is believed that
Furthermore,
Q2.Which of these is not a purpose of the opening of a journalistic report?
Q3.Which information should be included in the opening of a journalistic report?
Q4.Which of the following should plans not include?
Q5.Match the subject-specific words to their definitions:
a stone or metal platform alongside water for loading ships
people travelling on the ship
people working on the ship
the ship's first journey
Q6.Which of these journalistic phrases explains the time most exactly?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Order the parts of a journalistic report.
Q2.Which of these enhance text cohesion?
Q3.Tick the definition of parenthesis.
Q4.Match the key words to their definitions:
the first paragraph of a journalistic report
the most basic, necessary information
the aim of the text
how a text flows to maintain the interest of the reader
Q5.Identify the parenthesis in this sentence: The Titanic (built in Belfast) set sail from Southampton earlier today.
Q6.Which of these punctuation marks are brackets?
To help you plan your 5 English lesson on: Writing the opening of a journalistic report about the Titanic, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 5 English lesson on: Writing the opening of a journalistic report about the Titanic, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 English lessons from the The Titanic: journalistic report writing unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.