New
New
Year 10
AQA

Crafting an effective ending

I can select and write an effective ending for a fictional story.

New
New
Year 10
AQA

Crafting an effective ending

I can select and write an effective ending for a fictional story.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. We might find a resolution reassuring because it teaches us that society can return to order and justice will be done.
  2. A cliffhanger ending may create tension because it could imply that there will never be a satisfying ending to problems.
  3. We may find that an anti-climax subverts our expectations of what a ‘happy ending’ or ‘winning’ looks like.
  4. A plot twist might be unsettling as it could imply that we can’t predict outcomes or people’s behaviour.

Keywords

  • Reassure - say or do something to remove the doubts or fears of (someone)

  • Unsettled - nervous or worried; unable to relax

  • Subvert - to criticise or undermine the usual way of doing something or common values

  • Tension - a feeling of nervousness that makes you unable to relax

Common misconception

It doesn't matter how you end a story - people will have the same emotional reaction.

The way that you end a story drastically impacts the lasting emotional impression and how a reader interprets the story.

It would be useful to encourage pupils to share their ideas for an ending and how they think it may impact people to reinforce the idea that endings greatly impact the way we interpret a story.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

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).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Arguably, writers may use short sentences in order to create a __________ atmosphere.
peaceful
leisurely
Correct answer: tense
melancholy
Q2.
Using images of light within a text typically creates a sense of __________.
pessimism
Correct answer: optimism
apathy
Q3.
'To say or do something to remove the doubts or fears of (someone)' is the definition of which word beginning with 'r'?
Correct Answer: reassure
Q4.
'Two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect' is the definition of which word beginning with 'j'?
Correct Answer: juxtaposition, juxtapose, juxtaposed
Q5.
'The act of creating or using words that include sounds that are similar to the noises the words refer to' is the definition of which word?
anaphora
alliteration
sibilance
Correct answer: onomatopoeia
Q6.
Which of the following might the image of water symbolise in fiction writing?
Correct answer: unpredictability
stability
Correct answer: temporariness
safety

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the ending with the definition.
Correct Answer:resolution,where any unanswered questions are answered

where any unanswered questions are answered

Correct Answer:cliffhanger,an element of a story is left unresolved

an element of a story is left unresolved

Correct Answer:anti-climax,something is less dramatic than expected

something is less dramatic than expected

Correct Answer:plot twist,a radical change in the direction or expected outcome

a radical change in the direction or expected outcome

Q2.
'A feeling of nervousness that makes you unable to relax' is the definition of which word beginning with 't'?
Correct Answer: tension, tense
Q3.
Which of the following endings, found in fiction writing, are most likely to cause the reader to feel tense?
resolution
Correct answer: cliffhanger
anti-climax
Correct answer: plot twist
Q4.
Which of the following endings is most likely to make the reader feel reassured?
Correct answer: resolution
cliffhanger
anti-climax
plot twist
Q5.
'Nervous and worried; unable to relax' is the definition of which word beginning with 'u'?
Correct Answer: unsettled
Q6.
'To criticise or undermine the usual way of doing something or common values' is the definition of which word beginning with 's'?
Correct Answer: subvert, subverts, subversion, to subvert