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English / Year 4 / Literature / Examining literature

Curriculum content descriptions

Discuss how authors and illustrators make stories exciting, moving and absorbing and hold readers’ interest by using various techniques, for example character development and plot tension (ACELT1605)

Elaborations
  • examining the author’s description of a character’s appearance, behaviour and speech and noting how the character’s development is evident through his or her dialogue and changing relationships and the reactions of other characters to him or her
  • identifying pivotal points in the plot where characters are faced with choices and commenting on how the author makes us care about their decisions and consequences
General capabilities
  • Literacy Literacy
  • Personal and social capability Personal and social capability
ScOT terms

Text structure

Video

How to Build Stories, Ch 3: Understanding story plots

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Interviews With 10 Australian Authors, Ch 9: Leigh Hobbs as Old Tom

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Video

What words and illustrations convey

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Online

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Story development and plot holes with Andy Griffiths

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Video

Sally Rippin on sculpting stories

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Sally Rippin on authors and illustrators

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Video

How to make a story interesting

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Interactive

Syllabus bites – responding to literature

A web page with information, teacher guides and resources on responding to texts. This resource supports the NSW English K-10 syllabus.

Text

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Text

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Video

How to write about what you love

Many of us enjoy writing when it is about something we care passionately about. Watch Lili Wilkinson describe her love of gardening and how she incorporated that love into her book, 'Green Valentine'. Can you think of something you care passionately about to create a story around?