New
New
Year 11
AQA

Writing effective introductions and conclusions on 'Animal Farm'

I can write sophisticated introductions and conclusions about the theme of education in 'Animal Farm'.

New
New
Year 11
AQA

Writing effective introductions and conclusions on 'Animal Farm'

I can write sophisticated introductions and conclusions about the theme of education in 'Animal Farm'.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Introductions and conclusions should follow a three part structure.
  2. An excellent introduction should start with a general statement about the text.
  3. An introduction should then have a more specific statement about the focus of the question, followed by a thesis.
  4. A conclusion should include an evaluation of the effectiveness of the text in exploring the writer's purpose.

Keywords

  • Overarching - An argument which is overarching encompasses all the main ideas or themes of a text.

  • Thesis - An overarching argument or the main idea in a response.

  • Fable - A short story, usually including animals, that presents a moral message.

  • Timeless - Something that does not change as a result of time or fashion.

  • Noun Appositive - A noun phrase that extends another noun to add extra information.

Common misconception

I don't need to bother with a conclusion.

Who will be reading your response? Imagine them reading your final sentence, how do you want them to feel?

Getting students to write and add introductions and conclusions to existing essays would be a great extra task to compliment this lesson.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need access to a copy of 'Animal Farm' by George Orwell.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying

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.
What role does education play in 'Animal Farm'?
Education is not addressed in the novella.
Education is essential for the animals to overthrow the humans.
Correct answer: Education is primarily for the pigs, excluding other animals.
Education is only relevant to the humans in the story.
Q2.
Which character from 'Animal Farm' is described as saying: "The education of the young was more important than anything that could be done for those who were already grown up."
Correct Answer: Napoleon, Napoleon.
Q3.
In 'Animal Farm', how does the concept of language evolve throughout the story?
Language remains static, with no significant changes.
The animals abandon language as a means of communication.
Correct answer: Language is gradually corrupted to serve the pigs' interests.
The animals develop a new, more democratic language.
Q4.
Which answer completes this quote from 'Animal Farm': "With their__________, it was natural that they should assume the leadership."
Correct answer: superior knowledge
large statures
ability to lead
use of rhetoric
Q5.
Which of these animals listed from 'Animal Farm' is the only one that can read?
Hens
Boxer
Correct answer: Muriel
Mollie
Clover
Q6.
Complete this quote, spoken by Boxer in 'Animal Farm': "I have no wish to take life, not even life".
Correct Answer: human, Human

6 Questions

Q1.
Which word beginning with "T" describes: "something that does not change as a result of time or fashion."
Correct Answer: Timeless, timeless, timeless., Timeless.
Q2.
Which of one of these is not part of a three part structure for an introduction?
Correct answer: Supporting detail and analysis
A thesis statement
A sentence about the whole text
A sentence focusing on the theme or character
Q3.
Which one of these is not part of a three part conclusion structure?
An evaluative comment
A sentence about what the text teaches us or gets us to think about
Correct answer: A comment to introduce your overarching argument
A sentence to summarise what you have said
Q4.
Which of the following are conclusive discourse markers?
Correct answer: Consequently
Correct answer: Ultimately
Initially
Correct answer: Fundamentally
To begin
Q5.
Which of these is an example of a complex sentence with a fronted subordinate clause?
Boxer is the epitome of ...
Orwell represents this through ...
Correct answer: In the presentation of Old Major, Orwell suggests that ...
Squealer is described as....
'Animal Farm' is...
Q6.
Which of these sentence starters does not use a noun apositive?
'Animal Farm', Orwell's powerful novella, presents a...
Boxer, who represents the proletariat, continually strives to...
Correct answer: Orwell is suggesting that through the power of education...
Orwell, who was a democratic socialist, believed in....
The barn, a microcosm, comes to represent...