Monday 4th January 2021

LC- Select appropriate vocabulary and language structures.

  This term, we are going to continue looking at classic fiction, why these books are so popular and how the authors blend action, dialogue and description.

 Today, we are going to remind ourselves of the work we have done so far and look at the use of vocabulary. 

 Read chapter 1 from The Wizard of Oz below. Whist you are reading, think about how the characters and setting are portrayed.

  You will see that in just 1 chapter, we learn a lot about the setting - the Kansas prairies- through a description of what Dorothy sees from the door. We also know what the house looks like. In this chapter, we also learn a little about the main characters. Finally, we are introduced to the cyclone or tornado and the dramatic action that introduces the rest of the story. 

In just 1 chapter, the author has managed to tell us a lot through clever use of vocabulary.

 The extract below, from the middle of chapter 1, introduces the cyclone to us. In the middle of all the action, the author has cleverly chosen vocabulary to give the reader a real sense of danger without just saying it.

It would have been boring to just read, ' The tornado was dangerous and the characters had to hide in the cellar'. 

Have a look at the highlighted words to see what I mean.

 From these words and phrases, we can write a summary poem of the tornado. All we have to do is to take them from the extract and think about how we can put them together to create the effect of danger.

                                                    An anxious sky

                                                    Greyer than usual

                                                    The wailing wind

                                                    A storm is coming!

                                                    Danger is near

                                                    Run!

                                                    A shrieking wind

                                                    Shaking, whirling, howling

 Hopefully you will notice that as you read this, you tend to read faster as you go along. It gives us the sense of panic.

 Our main novel of course is Oliver Twist. Here the setting is the workhouse. There is no panic and danger but instead poverty, sadness and despair. Charles Dickens had to choose his vocabulary carefully to make sure the reader understood how desperate Oliver's life was.

You are now going to write a summary poem based on the workhouse, just like I have shown you above. To start with, write the word 'workhouse' in the middle of your page and all around it, write down words and phrases to describe it - I have already given you 3 words. Use your knowledge of all the research you did before the holidays. You can also search for synonyms of the words you think of.

 When you have done that, start to organise some of your words and phrases to make a descriptive poem. Remember, you want to give the reader a sense of desperation and sadness.

 If you are working from home, you can take a photo of your poem or even write it in an email.