Texts to Inform and Entertain - Worksheet

The worksheet from Teacher-of-Primary.co.uk provides an exercise that helps students distinguish between texts designed to inform and those intended to entertain. In one part of the exercise, students are asked to read an excerpt from 'Horrible Histories – Ruthless Romans' and identify two informative elements and three entertaining words or phrases. This exercise aims to develop the students' ability to discern the purpose of a text and to recognize the different language features that authors use depending on their intent.

In another section, students are presented with two passages about the English Civil War. The first text is clearly informative, as it outlines the historical events between 1642 and 1651, including the conflicts between Parliamentarians and Royalists, and the eventual Parliamentary victory at the Battle of Worcester. Students are prompted to explain why this text serves an informative purpose. The second excerpt describes the harrowing conditions of the war, with a focus on the Battle of Edge Hill and the chilling effect that saved many lives. This passage is designed to be entertaining, engaging the reader with vivid descriptions and intriguing facts about the war's brutality and the surprising survival of the injured. Students must articulate why this text is considered entertaining.