Summarising a non-fiction text: 'a letter to my son' (the Guardian, 2014)
I can show understanding of a non-fiction text by summarising it, as well as exploring the writer’s use of direct address.
Summarising a non-fiction text: 'a letter to my son' (the Guardian, 2014)
I can show understanding of a non-fiction text by summarising it, as well as exploring the writer’s use of direct address.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- An open letter is written to a particular person or group but published so that the public can read it.
- A summary captures the main ideas of a text in a short and clear format.
- When writing a summary of a text, it can be helpful to include short quotations.
- You can develop your summary by including inferences; inferences explore a text’s suggested ideas.
- Direct address sees a writer directly address their audience, often using pronouns like “you”, “we”, or “us”.
Common misconception
The pronoun "you" is the only example of direct address.
Direct address is any way in which a writer directly addresses their audience. This could be a title, name or term.
Keywords
Open letter - a letter written to a particular person or group but which is published in a newspaper or journal so the public can read it
Discourse marker - a word or phrase which helps structure writing or talk, for example: first, then, finally
Infer - in relation to a text, to come to understand a text’s suggested ideas
Suggest - to hint, or imply
Direct address - when a writer directly addresses their audience, often using pronouns like “you”, “we”, or “us”
Equipment
You need access to a copy of 'A letter to...My son, who is a drug addict', an anonymous letter published in the Guardian in 2014. There is a link to this letter in the slide deck/additional materials.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of mental health issues
Supervision
Adult supervision required
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).
Video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
to come to understand a text’s suggested ideas
to comment on a writer’s methods
to express a text’s main ideas
very clear
violent or unsteady movement in air or water
bored, lacking in enthusiasm
hugged
extremely thin
Exit quiz
6 Questions
a piece of writing, often included in a newspaper
written to a person/group but published so the public can read it
an account of someone’s life written by someone else
writing that is factual
a short section of a longer bit of text