New
New
Year 11
Eduqas

Writing the opening to an impactful narrative

I can write the opening to an impactful narrative.

New
New
Year 11
Eduqas

Writing the opening to an impactful narrative

I can write the opening to an impactful narrative.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. To create atmosphere, you might use similes, dialogue and motifs.
  2. To avoid clichés, you might think about how you can add extra detail and sensory aspects to similes.
  3. To write effective dialogue, you might consider how you present body language and the balance of the lines.
  4. To create motifs that represent emotions, you might think about what colours or objects symbolise that emotions.

Keywords

  • Impactful - having a powerful effect on a situation or person

  • Exposition - sets up the setting, characters and atmosphere of the story

  • Atmosphere - the overall mood of a story or poem

  • Motif - an object, image, sound or phrase that is repeated throughout a story that relates to the themes

Common misconception

The words exchanged between characters are the most effective way to convey the relationship between them.

Often, the most effective dialogue comes from considering body language and the balance of the lines.

You might like to look at the opening of a story that the pupils have read recently and consider how it sets up the atmosphere of the entire novel.
Teacher tip

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.
'The overall mood of a story or poem' is the definition of which word beginning with 'a'?
Correct Answer: atmosphere
Q2.
'A conversation between two or more people as a feature of a book, play, or film' is the definition of which word beginning with 'd'?
Correct Answer: dialogue
Q3.
Which of the following animals might we associate with jealousy and envy?
tigers
owls
Correct answer: snakes
sharks
Q4.
'A figure of speech that involves comparing two unlike things using the words 'like' or 'as' ' is the definition of which word?
Correct Answer: simile
Q5.
Which of the following might we think of as closed body language?
Correct answer: hunched shoulders
open arms
Correct answer: crossed arms
eye contact
Q6.
'Having a powerful effect on a situation or person' is the definition of which word beginning with 'i'?
Correct Answer: impactful, impact

6 Questions

Q1.
Which type of atmosphere might the simile 'the branches reached out as if with open arms' might create?
menacing
Correct answer: welcoming
apathetic
Q2.
'A phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought' is the definition of which word beginning with 'c'?
Correct Answer: cliche, cliché
Q3.
Which of the following are examples of closed body language?
eye contact
Correct answer: crossed arms
Correct answer: avoiding eye contact
open arms
Q4.
'Sets up the setting, characters and atmosphere of the story' is the definition of which word beginning with 'e'?
Correct Answer: exposition
Q5.
'An object, image, sound or phrase that is repeated throughout a story that relates to the themes' is the definition of which word beginning with 'm'?
Correct Answer: motif, motifs
Q6.
Which of the following flowers typically symbolises jealousy?
red roses
violets
foxgloves
Correct answer: yellow hyacinths