Writing inspired by ‘Skin of the Sea’: varying sentence types to create rhythm
I can vary my sentence types and lengths to improve the rhythm of a paragraph of creative writing inspired by Natasha Bowen’s ‘Skin of the Sea’.
Writing inspired by ‘Skin of the Sea’: varying sentence types to create rhythm
I can vary my sentence types and lengths to improve the rhythm of a paragraph of creative writing inspired by Natasha Bowen’s ‘Skin of the Sea’.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- A complex sentence is made up of a main clause and a subordinate clause.
- Complex sentences are divided by a comma when the subordinate clause begins the sentence.
- Writers use a range of sentence types and lengths in their work to create rhythm and pace.
- You should consider the rhythm of your own writing just as you would consider which word to use, or which technique.
Keywords
Rhythm - the beat, flow, or pattern of a piece of music or writing.
Oscillate - to move repeatedly from side to side.
Defiant - boldly disobedient.
Subordinate clause - a clause of a sentence which doesn’t make sense by itself.
Complex sentence - a sentence made up of a main clause (a sentence which makes sense by itself) and a subordinate clause.
Common misconception
The term complex sentence is a synonym for a long sentence.
A complex sentence is a technical term. It refers to a sentence that has a main clause and a subordinate clause. Sentences can be long but if they don't have a subordinate clause, they are not a complex sentence.
To help you plan your year 8 English lesson on: Writing inspired by ‘Skin of the Sea’: varying sentence types to create rhythm, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 8 English lesson on: Writing inspired by ‘Skin of the Sea’: varying sentence types to create rhythm, 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.
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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 3 English lessons from the Myths, legends and stories that inspire unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
You will need a copy of 'Skin of the Sea' by Natasha Bowen published by Penguin Random House in 2021.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
a doing or being word
a word that replaces an already named noun
the name of a specific person, place or thing
the person or thing doing the main verb in the sentence
has one verb
joins two simple sentences together with connectives
made up of a main clause and a subordinate clause