New
New
Year 11
Edexcel

Identifying and using different perspectives

I can identify perspectives and use them in my own writing.

New
New
Year 11
Edexcel

Identifying and using different perspectives

I can identify perspectives and use them in my own writing.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Perspective refers to literal viewpoint and an opinion.
  2. Examples of perspective include: in media res, panoramic, external and internal.
  3. Words for explaining perspectives include: focus, zoom, trace, notice.
  4. When planning to write about a scene, the first decision is where to position the narrator.
  5. When describing a scene, focus on three key points and include words and phrases.

Keywords

  • Perspective - a particular point of view; this can be both literally what you see but also what you feel and think

  • In medias res - Latin for “in the middle of things”; this refers to writing that starts in the middle of the plot or action

  • Panoramic - a panorama is an unbroken view of the whole region surrounding an observer

Common misconception

Students may think that all writing should begin at the beginning and move through the middle to the end.

Encourage them to think about how stories, especially films, often start with an exciting scene.

Images of the Rocky Mountains and Isabella Bird may help students to visualise the events described in the extract.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need a copy of an extract from Isabella Bird's 'A lady's life in the Rocky Mountains' which is available in the additional materials.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

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).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Who was Isabella Bird?
a renowned painter
an influential politician
Correct answer: a writer and explorer
a famous musician
Q2.
What are the missing words in the title of Isabella Bird book: A life in the mountains.
"Gentlewoman's" and "American"
"Lady's" and "Canadian"
Correct answer: "Lady's" and "Rocky"
"Gentlewoman's" and "Rocky"
Q3.
Isabella Bird travelled in which century?
16th
18th
Correct answer: 19th
20th
Q4.
Which of the following verbs is in the present participle form?
Correct answer: running
ran
runs
run
Q5.
Which of the following is the best definition of a narrator?
the main character in a story
the person who writes the story
Correct answer: the voice that tells the story
the setting of the story
Q6.
Which of the following is a synonym for describe?
explain
interpret
Correct answer: depict
analyse

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the words on the left with their synonyms on the right.
Correct Answer:perspectives,viewpoints

viewpoints

Correct Answer:in media res,in the middle of the drama

in the middle of the drama

Correct Answer:panorama,wide view

wide view

Q2.
Match the words on the left with their function when discussing perspective.
Correct Answer:foreground, background, above,for placing and positioning people and objects

for placing and positioning people and objects

Correct Answer:firstly, then, lastly ,for showing the sequence of how we view a scene

for showing the sequence of how we view a scene

Correct Answer:swept, zoomed, focused,to indicate how closely or not we look at something

to indicate how closely or not we look at something

Q3.
What is the best argument for shifting perspective from the external landscape to inner feelings?
to show the range of the narrator's perspectives
to show what the landscape looks like
to reveal how the narrator feels
Correct answer: to show the impact of the landscape on the narrator
Q4.
Which words from the following sentence (taken from 'A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains') show how triumphant Bird felt: "This was the climb; but at last the Peak was won."?
climb
at last
peak
Correct answer: won
Q5.
When deciding on the perspective for a piece of writing, what should you decide first?
the name of the narrator
Correct answer: the position of the narrator
the age and sex of the narrator
the motivations of the narrator
Q6.
Which of the following is true of a piece of descriptive or narrative writing?
You need to start at the begining and work through the account chronologically.
Correct answer: Beginning in the middle of the action (in medias res) can be effective.
You need to decide if the account is going to be personal.
Correct answer: You can shift perspective for specific effects.

Additional material

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