Learning Plan 1
Year 7 English
The Graveyard Book: Reading Skills
This half term I am learning: How to identify word types and descriptive techniques in a piece of writing. How to explain the effects of descriptive words and techniques . How to explain the effects of a writer's structural choices. Abou
How to build and defend opinions about characters and stories.
By the end of this half term I will: Be able to develop and defend imaginative ideas about stories and characters. Be able to explain and explore the effects of a writer's language choices on a reader. Be able to explain and explore the effects of a writer's structural choices on a reader. Be able to use technical words and ideas to describe the way a story has been written. Week 1 Classwork I will: 
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Read the beginning of The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. Develop inferences and ideas based on illustrations and extracts from the novel. Analyse the author's word choices in Chapter One. Complete a creative Word Choice Writing Challenge.
Key Terms I will learn:
Noun.
Adjective.
Verb.
Adverb.
Simile.
Metaphor.
Repetition.
Listing.
Alliteration.
Inference. Homework Explore the effects of word choices in different stories by completing the word analysis worksheet. Week 2 Classwork I will:  Finish reading Chapter One of The Graveyard Book.  Explore the effects of the similes and metaphors in Chapter One.  Complete a creative Simile Writing Challenge. Homework Explore the effects of similes and metaphors in different stories by completing the simile and metaphor worksheet.
Week 3 Classwork I will: 
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Read Chapter Three of The Graveyard Book. Analyse the structure of the opening to Chapter Three. Explore the characters of the ghouls in The Graveyard Book, analysing the ways in which the writer has used verbs, adjectives, similes and speech in his descriptions. Week 4 Classwork I will: 
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Finish reading Chapter Three. Read and discuss a range of extracts describing the character of Silas in The Graveyard Book. Independently annotate the language choices in the extracts to explore their meanings. Write an essay exploring the character of Silas. Week 5 Classwork I will: 
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Read Chapter Six of The Graveyard Book. Discuss the concept of human potential, based on ideas from the novel. Become an expert on analysing the characters in a story. Debate the morality of Bod's behaviour in Chapter Six, expressing and developing my opinions.
Week 6 Classwork I will:  Read the beginning of Chapter Seven.  Analyse the ways in which different sentence structures have been used for effect.  Analyse the structural techniques in an extract from the chapter.  Complete the Structural Choices Writing Challenge. Homework Practise making inferences and deductions about characters by completing the character analysis worksheet. Homework Using your work in class, complete a plan for your essay about Silas. Homework Prepare ideas and notes for this week's debates. Complete questions on the language of fear in Chapter Six. Homework Complete the worksheet to explore the different ways of structuring a description for effect.