New
New
Year 7

Developing explanations in analytical writing about Akala's 'The Dark Lady'

I can develop my explanations in order to effectively put my ideas about Akala's 'The Dark Lady' across to the reader.

New
New
Year 7

Developing explanations in analytical writing about Akala's 'The Dark Lady'

I can develop my explanations in order to effectively put my ideas about Akala's 'The Dark Lady' across to the reader.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Good analytical paragraphs begin with a clear topic sentence, supported by a range of evidence.
  2. Good analytical paragraphs mention what method the writer is using.
  3. Good analytical paragraphs are cohesive – discourse markers are used to link ideas together.
  4. Comment on the effects of specific language devices to develop your analysis in detail.

Common misconception

That the reader will automatically be able to follow your train of thought.

We all have different connotations from words; you need to clearly explain how you have reached your idea in order for the reader to be able to understand your argument.

Keywords

  • Inference - a guess that you make or an opinion that you form based on the information that you have

  • Connotation - a feeling or idea that is suggested by a word in addition to its basic meaning

  • Topic sentence - a sentence that explains the main focus or idea of a paragraph

  • Personification - where a non-human object or thing is given human characteristics

  • Simile - a rhetorical device used to compare two things using the words ‘like’ or ‘as’

You may wish to discuss additional quotations and techniques used to describe Henry and Joan's magical room.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You need a copy of the 2021 Hodder Children’s Book edition of ‘The Dark Lady’ by Akala for this lesson.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

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).

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which two are connotations of gold?
cheap
Correct answer: valuable
Correct answer: warm
cold
Q2.
What is a simile?
a comparison where something is said to be something else
Correct answer: a comparison where something is said to be like something else
giving human emotions non-human things or objects
Q3.
The act of doing or saying something again is called ...
Correct Answer: repetition
Q4.
What is personification?
where non-human emotions are given to humans
Correct answer: where human characteristics are given to non-human things or objects
a figure of speech places words with opposite meanings together
Q5.
Which of the following is an effective topic sentence?
Correct answer: 'Akala presents the room as a safe, reassuring place.'
'Akala uses techniques to present the room in a certain way.'
'Akala uses similes to present the room in a particular way.'
Q6.
What does develop mean?
Correct answer: to change into a more advanced form
to stay exactly the same
to change into a less advanced form
to change into a more positive outlook

6 Questions

Q1.
In Akala's 'The Dark Lady', the door to the magic room is said to unfasten itself - what technique is this?
simile
Correct answer: personification
enjambment
oxymoron
Q2.
In Akala's 'The Dark Lady', the door is said to be like the "stitching" on a beautiful woman's dress - which technique is this?
metaphor
Correct answer: simile
pathetic fallacy
juxtaposition
Q3.
To shimmer means to ...
Correct answer: shine with a soft light.
shine with a bright light.
become dull and dark.
Q4.
Which things do we associate with gold that makes it seem beautiful and valuable?
Correct answer: the sun
the moon
Correct answer: jewellery
nature
Q5.
A guess that you make or an opinion that you form based on the information that you have is an ...
Correct Answer: inference
Q6.
Akala's use of a simile in 'The Dark Lady' to describe the door to Henry and Joan's magical room suggests ...
the door is ordinary.
Correct answer: the door is extraordinary.
the door is familiar.