The Life of Charles Dickens - Lesson 5 - Writing Your Text PowerPoint

The fifth lesson in the exploration of Charles Dickens' life invites students to delve into the craft of writing by creating text for their own "The Diabolical World of Charles Dickens" booklet. The lesson's objective is to transform collected notes into a cohesive and engaging narrative. It begins with a step that requires students to write up their notes, converting bullet points and shorthand into full sentences that adhere to the rules of Standard English. This includes changing numbers to words, using complete phrases instead of abbreviations, spelling words correctly, and punctuating sentences properly. An example is provided where brief notes on Dickens' life are expanded into a more narrative form, detailing his birth in Portsmouth, his father's imprisonment for debt, and the consequent hardships that befell young Charles, including his early start to work in a factory.

After crafting a clear and accurate prose from notes, the next step challenges students to adapt their writing to match the style of the "Horrible Histories" books. This requires incorporating a conversational tone, a variety of sentence structures, and including interesting details that bring the historical figures to life. Techniques such as using rhetorical questions, storytelling elements, and focusing on strange or gruesome details are suggested to help achieve this style. Students are then asked to use their notes and the transformation tools to write an opening paragraph for their booklet. This exercise not only enhances their understanding of Dickens' life but also develops their writing skills by combining factual accuracy with creative flair. The lesson concludes with students sharing their work with the class, providing an opportunity for feedback and discussion.