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English lesson plan · 10th grade (Year 11 in England) · 60 minutes

The effect of narrative perspective and tense

Reading Comprehension

CCSS RL.9-10.5CCSS RL.9-10.6England: GCSE English Language Paper 1 Q3 and Q4England: GCSE English Literature

Objective and success criteria

Students will: The effect of narrative perspective and tense.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: First, second or third person narrators; Point of view and narrator

Leads to: Drama terms: soliloquy, aside, foil, hamartia, catharsis…; Narrative techniques: unreliable narrator, in medias res, frame narrative…

Materials: A short text or extract (one copy each), Highlighters, Question cards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 6 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (First, second or third person narrators; Point of view and narrator). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. What point of view is this extract written in? To make the perfect pancake, you first need patience. You wait until the bubbles pop. (first person / second person / third person limited / third person omniscient) → second personPrompt: Look at the pronouns: I/we (first), you (second), he/she/they (third).
  2. Read the question and choose. Why might a writer choose a first-person narrator for a mystery? (it lets the reader know every character's secrets / it makes the story less personal / it means there can be no dialogue / the reader learns clues only as the narrator does, which builds suspense) → the reader learns clues only as the narrator does, which builds suspensePrompt: Think about how much each type of narrator knows.
  3. What point of view is this extract written in? You step into the dark hallway. You hear a creak behind you. (first person / second person / third person limited / third person omniscient) → second personPrompt: Look at the pronouns: I/we (first), you (second), he/she/they (third).

Hook · 6 min

  • Read the first lines of a short text aloud and ask what students predict will happen and why.
  • Share the objective: The effect of narrative perspective and tense. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 12 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Read the question and choose. A story switches between two first-person narrators in alternating chapters. What is the main benefit?
  • Step 1: Perspective and tense control closeness, knowledge and trust: present tense feels immediate; hindsight allows reflection; omniscience allows dramatic irony.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: readers see the same events from two viewpoints
  • Answer: readers see the same events from two viewpoints
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 12 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Is the proposed answer correct? An older narrator looks back on her childhood in the past tense. What does this allow? → a faster pace (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → no, it is not correctPrompt: Who is telling the story, and when (present or looking back)?
  2. Read the question and choose. An omniscient narrator reveals that a character's friend is secretly planning to betray her. What effect does this create? (humour, because nothing will happen / dramatic irony and tension, because we know more than she does / confusion, because we know less / distance from the plot) → dramatic irony and tension, because we know more than she doesPrompt: Who is telling the story, and when (present or looking back)?

You do: independent practice · 17 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 7 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Read the question and choose. An omniscient narrator reveals that a character's friend is secretly planning to betray her. What effect does this create? (confusion, because we know less / distance from the plot / dramatic irony and tension, because we know more than she does / humour, because nothing will happen) → dramatic irony and tension, because we know more than she doesPrompt: Who is telling the story, and when (present or looking back)?
  2. Is the proposed answer correct? A story switches between two first-person narrators in alternating chapters. What is the main benefit? → readers see the same events from two viewpoints (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → yes, it is correctPrompt: Who is telling the story, and when (present or looking back)?

Watch out for

  • Answering from memory or opinion instead of evidence in the text.
  • Copying a long quote without explaining what it shows.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: First, second or third person narrators.
  • Use concrete materials: a short text or extract (one copy each).
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Drama terms: soliloquy, aside, foil, hamartia, catharsis…; Narrative techniques: unreliable narrator, in medias res, frame narrative….
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-10.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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The effect of narrative perspective and tense

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  1. Question 1

    Read the question and choose. A guidebook says, "You turn left at the fountain and you'll see the old gate." Why use second person?

    • A. it shows the writer's private thoughts
    • B. it creates an unreliable narrator
    • C. it makes the text a poem
    • D. it guides the reader directly, as if they are there

  2. Question 2

    Is the proposed answer correct? An older narrator looks back on her childhood in the past tense. What does this allow? → access to every character's thoughts

    • A. yes, it is correct
    • B. no, it is not correct

  3. Question 3

    Is the proposed answer correct? A guidebook says, "You turn left at the fountain and you'll see the old gate." Why use second person? → it shows the writer's private thoughts

    • A. yes, it is correct
    • B. no, it is not correct

  4. Question 4

    Is the proposed answer correct? An omniscient narrator reveals that a character's friend is secretly planning to betray her. What effect does this create? → dramatic irony and tension, because we know more than she does

    • A. yes, it is correct
    • B. no, it is not correct

  5. Question 5

    Read the question and choose. A story switches between two first-person narrators in alternating chapters. What is the main benefit?

    • A. readers see the same events from two viewpoints
    • B. it makes the story shorter
    • C. readers learn nothing about either character
    • D. it removes all suspense

  6. Question 6

    Is the proposed answer correct? An omniscient narrator reveals that a character's friend is secretly planning to betray her. What effect does this create? → distance from the plot

    • A. yes, it is correct
    • B. no, it is not correct

  7. Question 7

    Read the question and choose. A narrator describes a disastrous party but insists, "Everyone had a wonderful time." What might the writer be suggesting?

    • A. the narrator is omniscient
    • B. the narrator is unreliable, so readers should question their account
    • C. the writer made a mistake
    • D. the party really was wonderful

  8. Question 8

    Is the proposed answer correct? A guidebook says, "You turn left at the fountain and you'll see the old gate." Why use second person? → it guides the reader directly, as if they are there

    • A. yes, it is correct
    • B. no, it is not correct

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Answer key: The effect of narrative perspective and tense

  1. 1. D. it guides the reader directly, as if they are there

  2. 2. B. no, it is not correct

  3. 3. B. no, it is not correct

  4. 4. A. yes, it is correct

  5. 5. A. readers see the same events from two viewpoints

  6. 6. B. no, it is not correct

  7. 7. B. the narrator is unreliable, so readers should question their account

  8. 8. A. yes, it is correct