Year 4 English: The effect of word choice and story structure on the reader
Part of the Year 4 English reading fiction and vocabulary chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
The effect of word choice and story structure on the reader
The effect of a word or sentence is the feeling or picture it creates for the reader. Writers choose words carefully: froze is stronger than stopped, and crept is quieter than walked. Sentence length changes the pace. A very short sentence such as Nothing moved. makes the reader pause.
The structure of a story is how it is organised. Many stories have a beginning (who and where), a build-up (the problem grows), a climax (the most tense or exciting moment) and a resolution (the ending).
Key ideas
- The effect is the feeling or picture a word or sentence creates for the reader.
- Very short sentences make the reader pause and build suspense.
- The structure of a story: beginning, build-up, climax and resolution.
- The climax is the most tense or exciting moment; the resolution is how the story ends.
Read: The Creak in the Corridor
Tom stood in the dark corridor, outside his bedroom door. Somewhere below, the clock ticked. Nothing moved. Then, a floorboard creaked. Tom froze, and his breath caught in his throat. Slowly, the bedroom door began to open. He had never been so afraid in all his life. Then the door swung wide, and a small grey cat padded out, tail held high. Tom let out a shaky laugh. The cat blinked at him as if nothing had happened. Tom bent down and scratched behind its ears. "You gave me a fright," he whispered. Downstairs, Mum shouted that dinner was ready, and the house seemed to breathe again. Tom picked up the cat and followed the smell of toast down the stairs.
Method. Look at the length of the sentence and the pace it creates.
- Look at the length. Three words is very short after a longer sentence.Nothing moved.
- Think about the pace. A short sentence slows the reading and makes the reader pause.a slow, tense pause
- Name the effect. The reader waits, and expects something to happen.builds suspense
- Write the answer. it builds suspense by making the reader pause
Check. The pause makes the reader feel suspense. ✓
Method. Think about what the word froze means and what it makes the reader picture.
- Find the word. Froze means stopped still, suddenly.froze
- Think about the picture. The reader sees Tom stop with fear.stopped still
- Name the effect. The word shows that Tom was frightened, and it makes the reader feel tense.frightened and tense
- Write the answer. it shows Tom suddenly stopped still because he was frightened
Check. Froze makes the reader picture sudden fear. ✓
Method. Decide whether the sentence adds to the fear or ends it.
- Read the sentence. Mum calls about dinner, and the house feels calm.the house seemed to breathe again
- Decide what it does. It ends the fear, so the story is coming to an end.ends the fear
- Name the part. The part that ends the story is the resolution.resolution
- Write the answer. resolution
Check. The sentence ends the story calmly. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: do not say a word is "good" or "scary" without explaining why. Name the effect: what the reader feels or sees, and which word or sentence makes it happen.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Read the sentence Nothing moved. aloud twice, once with a pause and once without. Ask your child: how does the pause change the feeling?
Exercise 8D Practice: the effect of words and the structure of a story
Method. Find the fact that the text states.
- Find the words that answer the question. Scan the text for the detail the question asks about.Tom stood in the dark corridor, outside his bedroom door
- Check that the fact is stated, not guessed. The first sentence gives the place.in the dark corridor, outside his bedroom door
- Write the answer. in the dark corridor, outside his bedroom door
Check. The text states this fact. ✓
Method. Find the fact that the text states.
- Find the words that answer the question. Scan the text for the detail the question asks about.Somewhere below, the clock ticked.
- Check that the fact is stated, not guessed. The sound comes in the sentence before Nothing moved.the clock ticked
- Write the answer. the clock ticked
Check. The text states this fact. ✓
Method. Think about what the word froze means.
- Find the word. Tom froze after the floorboard creaked.Tom froze
- Think about its meaning. Froze means stopped still, suddenly.stopped still
- Give the feeling. He stopped still because he was frightened.he stopped still because he was frightened
- Write the answer. he stopped still because he was frightened
Check. Froze shows sudden fear. ✓
Method. Find the fact that the text states.
- Find the words that answer the question. Scan the text for the detail the question asks about.a small grey cat padded out
- Check that the fact is stated, not guessed. The creature is named after the door swung wide.a small grey cat
- Write the answer. a small grey cat
Check. The text states this fact. ✓
Method. Find the evidence, then work out what it shows.
- Find what the character does or says. Look for actions, words or reactions that show a feeling.let out a shaky laugh
- Work out the feeling. A shaky laugh after a frightening moment shows that he feels relieved.relieved
- Give the feeling with the evidence. A good answer quotes the words that prove the idea.relieved, because the text says "let out a shaky laugh"
- Write the answer. relieved, because the text says "let out a shaky laugh"
Check. The evidence supports the feeling. ✓
Method. Think about how the short sentence changes the pace.
- Find the sentence. Nothing moved comes after the clock ticked.Nothing moved
- Think about the pace. The short sentence makes the reader stop and wait.a pause
- Name the effect. It builds suspense before the floorboard creaks.builds suspense
- Write the answer. it makes the reader pause and builds suspense
Check. The pause builds suspense. ✓
Method. Find the fact that the text states.
- Find the words that answer the question. Scan the text for the detail the question asks about.Then the door swung wide, and a small grey cat padded out
- Check that the fact is stated, not guessed. The most tense moment is when the door opens; the sentence before it builds the fear.Then the door swung wide
- Write the answer. Then the door swung wide
Check. The text states this fact. ✓
Method. Find the fact that the text states.
- Find the words that answer the question. Scan the text for the detail the question asks about.Downstairs, Mum shouted that dinner was ready
- Check that the fact is stated, not guessed. The calm ordinary news about dinner ends the fear.Downstairs, Mum shouted that dinner was ready
- Write the answer. Downstairs, Mum shouted that dinner was ready
Check. The text states this fact. ✓
Method. Think about how a house would feel after a frightening moment.
- Find the sentence. The house seemed to breathe again after the fear.the house seemed to breathe again
- Think about the picture. A house that breathes again is calm and alive.calm and alive
- Name the effect. The reader feels the tension has gone.the fear is over
- Write the answer. the house feels calm and alive again, so the fear is over
Check. The sentence shows the tension has ended. ✓
Method. Think about the order of the parts of the story.
- Look at the beginning of the story. The story begins with Tom in the dark corridor.in the dark corridor
- Look at the build-up. The clock, the silence and the creak build the tension.Nothing moved
- Compare with the climax. If the cat came first, there would be no build-up, so the climax would not be frightening.no build-up
- Write the answer. no, because the tension builds up through the clock, the silence and the creak before the cat appears
Check. The build-up is needed before the climax. ✓
Method. Think about what padded means and how an animal moves.
- Find the word. The cat padded out of the room.padded out
- Think about its meaning. Padded means moving with soft, quiet steps, like a cat.soft, quiet steps
- Compare with walked. Walked is ordinary, but padded gives a soft and calm picture.calm and gentle
- Write the answer. padded suggests soft, quiet steps, so the cat looks calm and gentle
Check. Padded gives a soft, calm picture of the cat. ✓