New
New
Year 11
AQA

Structural methods in a dramatic account

I can identify and use a range of structural methods to plan a dramatic account of an event.

New
New
Year 11
AQA

Structural methods in a dramatic account

I can identify and use a range of structural methods to plan a dramatic account of an event.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Using structural methods effectively can make your writing dramatic.
  2. Examples of effective structural methods are in medias res, repetition and cliffhangers.
  3. Varying how an idea is repeated can indicate escalation.
  4. When planning a piece of writing, it can be helpful to think about now, before and later.
  5. A cliffhanger leaves a reader with a question to be answered.

Common misconception

Students often think that they have to tell a story chronologically.

Encourage them to consider how many books and films start with an exciting event and then go back to explain the exposition of the story.

Keywords

  • In media res - a Latin expression that refers to a story that starts in the middle of the action

  • Cliffhanger - dramatic ending to a text which leaves the audience wondering what will happen next

  • Autocratic - demanding that people obey completely, without asking or caring about anyone else's opinions

  • Surveillance - the careful watching of a person or place, especially by the police or army

  • Escalation - a situation in which something becomes greater or more serious

You could give students a series of pictures so they can come up with quick ideas about events in the past, present and future.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need access to a copy of the Prologue to 'The Girl with Seven Names' by Hyeonosoro Lee.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

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.
Finish the tile to Hyeonseo Lee's book: 'The Girl with ...."
Six Fires
Correct answer: Seven Names
Seven Flames
Three Fires
Q2.
Which country did Hyeonseo Lee escape from?
Correct Answer: North Korea , N Korea
Q3.
Where does Hyeonseo Lee live now?
Correct Answer: South Korea, S Korea
Q4.
What word beginning with 'R' refers to the repeated use of the same word or phrase for emphasis or effect?
Correct Answer: repetition
Q5.
Which of the following is the best definition of 'structural techniques' in a text?
the use of descriptive language to create imagery
the dialogue between characters
the use of symbols to convey deeper meanings
Correct answer: the organisation and arrangement of ideas and events in a text
Q6.
Which of the following is the best synonym for 'variations'?
Correct answer: differences
repetitions
similarities
copies

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the words on the left with their synonyms on the right.
Correct Answer:surveillance,monitoring

monitoring

Correct Answer:to escalate,to grow

to grow

Correct Answer:autocratic ,dictatorial

dictatorial

Correct Answer:variations ,differences

differences

Q2.
What Latin phrase refers to a narrative technique where a story starts in the middle of the action?
Correct Answer: in media res
Q3.
What do we call the narrative technique when a story ends with a question or a new mystery has been set up?
Correct Answer: cliffhanger, a cliffhanger, cliff hanger
Q4.
Which of the follwoing discourse markers indicates a shift to the past?
however
nevertheless
meanwhile
Correct answer: previously
possibly
Q5.
Which of the following discourse markers indicate a shift to the future?
during
Correct answer: later
alongside
whilst
long ago
Q6.
Which of the following is the best definition of structural methods in a text?
the use of literary devices to create dramatic imagery
Correct answer: the organisation and arrangement of ideas or events
the use of dialogue to develop characters
the choice of vocabulary to convey tone and mood