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Year 7

Describing a setting to reflect dystopian themes

I can create a description of a setting that reflects different dystopian themes.

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New
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Year 7

Describing a setting to reflect dystopian themes

I can create a description of a setting that reflects different dystopian themes.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Contrasting settings can be used to show injustice and inequality in a dystopian society
  2. Hostile or dilapidated settings are often used to reflect difficulties or discrimination
  3. Opulent or luxurious settings are often used to show power and greed
  4. Semantic fields can help create a setting that has a theme running through it

Keywords

  • Opulent - An opulent place or item is costly and luxurious, in a boastful manner.

  • Dilapidated - A dilapidated building is in a state of ruin because of neglect.

  • Semantic field - A semantic field is a group of words related in meaning.

  • Inequality - When a society has inequality, there are unfair differences between groups of people.

  • Juxtapose - If you juxtapose two things, you place them together for contrasting effect.

Common misconception

Pupils may think that dystopian societies only involve dilapidated settings.

Explain that there are two sides in a dystopia: those with power and control who live in luxury and ordinary citizens in run down areas.


To help you plan your year 7 english lesson on: Describing a setting to reflect dystopian themes, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Create a word bank of words to use for an opulent setting and provide it to pupils that need more help with independent writing.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), 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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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is a subordinate clause?
Correct answer: A clause that does not make sense on its own
A clause that makes sense on its own
The clause always at the end of a sentence
Q2.
What is the purpose of the conjunction 'and'?
To express contrast
To express a negative addition
Correct answer: To express an addition
Q3.
Match the punctuation type to the purpose.
Correct Answer:comma,to separate items in a list and clauses
tick

to separate items in a list and clauses

Correct Answer:exclamation mark,express intense emotion
tick

express intense emotion

Correct Answer:semicolon,to join two independent clauses together
tick

to join two independent clauses together

Correct Answer:apostrophe,to express possession
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to express possession

Correct Answer:colon,to introduce a list or explanation
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to introduce a list or explanation

Q4.
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Correct answer: Jemima's heart thumped as the door swung open.
Jemimas' heart thumped as the door swung open,
Jemimas heart thumped as the door swung open.
Q5.
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
The three things they cared about were; warmth, comfort, freedom.
Correct answer: The clouds darkened; the rain fell incessantly.
The windows of the dilapidated house were shattered; in pieces.
Q6.
Which sentence punctuates the list correctly?
Correct answer: The house was dilapidated: tattered blinds, flickering lights and peeling walls.
The house was dilapidated: tattered blinds; flickering lights; peeling walls.
The house was dilapidated; tattered blinds, flickering lights and peeling walls.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is a semantic field?
Using like or as to compare two things.
Starting two sentences with the same word.
When a group of words are synonyms for each other.
Correct answer: A group of words related in meaning.
Q2.
Which words fit a semantic field of nature?
Trees, flowers, building, clouds.
Correct answer: Breeze, ripple, blossom, sprout.
Blue, green, purple, pink.
Q3.
What does opulent mean?
Wealthy
Beautiful
Correct answer: Costly and luxurious
Q4.
Opulent settings in dystopias most often reflect ...
carelessness.
hope.
Correct answer: greed.
Q5.
Dilapidated settings in dystopias most often reflect ...
Correct answer: suffering.
indifference.
privilege.
Q6.
What theme does the juxtaposition of opulent and dilapidated settings suggest?
Equality
Control
Correct answer: Inequality
Rebellion