Texts to Inform and Entertain - PowerPoint

The educational resource outlines the differences between texts that inform and those that entertain, with an objective to help students recognise the purpose of various text types. Texts crafted for entertainment might include vivid descriptions and narrative elements that engage the reader's imagination, while informative texts provide factual information, data or explanations. For example, a sentence stating that 'The Big One' roller coaster opened in 1994 at Blackpool Pleasure Beach is informative, as it presents a specific fact. In contrast, a sentence describing the exhilarating sensation of reaching the peak of a roller coaster drop uses evocative language to entertain the reader. The resource includes exercises where students read sentences and identify their purpose, enhancing their understanding of the distinct characteristics that define informative and entertaining texts.

Additionally, the resource addresses how some texts can serve both to inform and entertain, using examples from 'Horrible Histories' where factual information is interwoven with humorous or engaging language. Students are encouraged to discern pieces of information as well as entertaining words or phrases within a text. In a further exercise, students read about the English Civil War and explain why the text is informative, citing its focus on historical events and outcomes. Another example demonstrates how a text can be entertaining by describing the harrowing conditions of war in a way that captures the reader's interest. The plenary session prompts students to reflect on how the purpose of a text affects its writing style, thereby consolidating their understanding of the different approaches taken by authors depending on whether they aim to inform or entertain their audience.