Year 5 English · Writing stories and poems · Lesson 11.1
Year 5 English: Planning: audience, purpose and form
Part of the Year 5 English writing stories and poems chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
11.1
Planning: audience, purpose and form
Story. Ruby has been asked to write a story for the Year 3 reading corner. Before she writes anything, she asks three questions: who will read it, why am I writing it, and what form should it take? Her plan will shape every choice she makes.
Key ideas
- Audience: who will read the writing, and what do they like?
- Purpose: why are you writing, such as to entertain, to describe or to persuade?
- Form: the type of writing, such as a story, a poem, a letter or a report.
- Use a model: read a similar piece, and notice how it begins, builds and ends.
Worked example 11.1.1
Ruby is writing for Year 3 children. What is the audience?
Method. Look at who the story is for.
- Find the reader. The story is for the Year 3 reading corner.Year 3 reading corner
- Name the audience. The audience is Year 3 children.Year 3 children
- Write the answer. Year 3 children
Check. Year 3 children. ✓
Worked example 11.1.2
Ruby wants to make the reader laugh. What is her purpose?
Method. Think about why a writer writes.
- Find the aim. She wants to make the reader laugh.laugh
- Name the purpose. Her purpose is to entertain.to entertain
- Write the answer. to entertain
Check. To entertain. ✓
Worked example 11.1.3
Which form suits a story for young readers: a story or a report?
Method. Choose the form that matches the purpose.
- Check the purpose. The purpose is to entertain.entertain
- Choose the form. A story is the form that entertains.a story
- Write the answer. a story
Check. A story. ✓
Exercise 11A Practice: planning
1
FWho might read a poem written for a school assembly?
the pupils, teachers and parents in the hall
Method. Think about who is in the hall.
- Think about the setting. The assembly is for the school community.school community
- Name the audience. Pupils, teachers and parents.pupils
- Write the answer. the pupils, teachers and parents in the hall
Check. Pupils, teachers and parents. ✓
2
FWrite one purpose for a letter to a friend.
to share news, to keep in touch, or to ask a question
Method. Think about why a letter is written.
- Think. A letter to a friend is informal.informal
- Name the purpose. To share news.share news
- Write the answer. to share news, to keep in touch, or to ask a question
Check. Any one purpose. ✓
3
FWhich form would suit a writer who wants to describe a storm: a poem or a list of instructions?
a poem
Method. Think about how a poem can describe a feeling.
- Think. A poem can use imagery and rhythm.imagery
- Choose. A poem suits describing a storm.a poem
- Write the answer. a poem
Check. A poem. ✓
4
FName the form of writing that gives steps in order: a story, a set of instructions or a poem?
a set of instructions
Method. Think about what each form does.
- Think. Steps in order are instructions.steps
- Choose. A set of instructions.instructions
- Write the answer. a set of instructions
Check. Instructions. ✓
5
PSAli wants to persuade the school to have a longer lunch. Which purpose is his: to persuade or to entertain?
to persuade
Method. Think about what he wants the reader to do.
- Think. He wants the school to change, so he wants to convince.convince
- Choose. His purpose is to persuade.to persuade
- Write the answer. to persuade
Check. To persuade. ✓
6
PSWhy might a writer look at a model text before writing a story?
to see how a similar story is built and written
Method. Think about what a model shows.
- Think. A model shows the structure and the language.structure
- Explain. The writer can use the same features in their own story.features
- Write the answer. to see how a similar story is built and written
Check. To learn the structure and language. ✓
7
PSPlan a story: which of these is the setting: a stormy night on a boat or a happy ending?
a stormy night on a boat
Method. The setting is where and when.
- Check each. A happy ending is the end of the plot.plot
- Choose. A stormy night on a boat is the setting.setting
- Write the answer. a stormy night on a boat
Check. A stormy night on a boat. ✓
8
PSWhich word describes the form of a poem with 14 lines: sonnet or haiku?
sonnet
Method. Remember the lines of each form.
- Recall. A sonnet has fourteen lines.fourteen
- Choose. A sonnet.sonnet
- Write the answer. sonnet
Check. Sonnet. ✓
9
RWrite a plan for a story: name the audience, the purpose and the form.
Accept any answer that names an audience, a purpose and a form that match each other. For example: Audience: Year 3 children. Purpose: to entertain. Form: a short story with a problem and a happy ending.
Method. Answer the three planning questions.
- Audience. Younger readers who like adventure.younger readers
- Purpose and form. To entertain, in a short story.short story
- Write the answer. Audience: Year 3 children. Purpose: to entertain. Form: a short story with a problem and a happy ending.
Check. The plan matches the audience and purpose. ✓
10
RExplain how a writer's choice of audience changes the words they use.
Accept any answer that says a younger audience needs simpler words or shorter sentences, and an older audience can cope with more. For example: a writer for young children uses short sentences and simple words, while a writer for adults can use longer words
Method. Think about who needs to understand the words.
- Think about young readers. Simple words help them understand.simple
- Think about older readers. Adults can read longer words and sentences.longer
- Write the answer. a writer for young children uses short sentences and simple words, while a writer for adults can use longer words
Check. Audience changes the words. ✓