Year 7: The Brilliant Book Company Presents …
About this unit
This unit develops the use of ICT to combine text, images and sound to create
meaning and impact. Pupils will analyse the presentational features used to
advertise novels. They will use their knowledge of persuasive devices to
develop their own presentation in the roles of marketing teams developing
‘sales pitches’ to persuade a company to publish their novel. They will
reorganise, develop and combine information using PowerPoint, exploring
ways in which ICT can be used to create impact. Pupils begin to reflect upon
and evaluate their own and others’ presentations.
Year 7 English objectives
Reading 10 – identify how media texts are tailored to suit their audience, and
recognise that audience responses vary
Reading 11 – recognise how print, sounds and still or moving images combine
to create meaning
Writing 1 – plan, draft, edit, revise, proofread and present a text with readers
and purpose in mind
Writing 11 – select and present information using detail, example, diagram
and illustration as appropriate
Speaking and Listening 3 – tailor the structure, vocabulary and delivery of a
talk or presentation so that listeners can follow it
Speaking and Listening 8 – identify the main methods used by presenters to
explain, persuade, amuse or argue a case
Speaking and Listening 19 – reflect on and evaluate their own presentations
and those of others
ICT key concepts
Using data and information sources
Understand that different forms of information – text, graphics, sound, numeric
data and symbols – can be combined to create meaning and impact.
Refining and presenting information
Use ICT to draft and refine a presentation, including:

capturing still and moving images and sound;

reorganising, developing and combining information, including text,
images and sound, using the simple editing functions of common
applications;

importing and exporting data and information in appropriate formats.
Key Stage 3 National Strategy English with ICT objectives
© Crown copyright 2004
DfES 0109-2004
1
Main ICT resources
PowerPoint or other presentation software
PC and projector
CD-ROM writer that allows pupil presentation files to be ‘burnt’ onto a single
CD-ROM for whole-class display. (Technical support should be available to do
this if necessary)
Other resources
Guided reading text or ‘book box’ texts. For the purposes of the lesson plan,
Kit’s Wilderness by David Almond is used
Advert jigsaw game instructions
Notes sheet
One clothes peg and one paper cup for each pair of pupils
Book blurbs sheet
Pupil evaluation sheet
Teacher: projector and/or whiteboard
Notes/planning
The teacher will need an OHT or scanned copy – preferably in colour – of the
front and back covers of the chosen novels. The teacher should also prepare
some slides on PowerPoint to demonstrate basic effects, using the chosen
novel as a stimulus. Four slides for Kit’s Wilderness are included here. These
incorporate some of the basic effects that can be achieved with PowerPoint.
Key Stage 3 National Strategy English with ICT objectives
© Crown copyright 2004
DfES 0109-2004
2
Brilliant Books
Year: 7
Lesson 1
Starter
(10 mins)
Advert jigsaw
game. (See full
instructions
provided.)
Introduction
(10 mins)
Development
(10 mins)
Plenary
(10 mins)
Development
(10 mins)
Plenary
(10 mins)
Using an OHP and, if
possible, colour
transparencies, the
teacher reveals ‘jigsaw
pieces’ of the front and
back covers of a text
other than Kit’s
Wilderness. While doing
this, the teacher models
annotating the ‘text’ to
indicate the language and
presentational features
which are (a) informative
(e.g. genre, plot outline,
author, age-range of
readership) and (b)
persuasive (e.g. eyecatching images,
persuasive vocabulary).
Using, if possible, colour
copies of the front and
back covers of Kit’s
Wilderness, pairs of
pupils annotate their copy
to indicate the language
and presentational
features which are (a)
informative (e.g. genre,
plot outline, author, agerange of readership) and
(b) persuasive (e.g. eyecatching images,
persuasive vocabulary).
Using the
frame
provided,
pairs note the
features they
have
highlighted
and compare
their notes
with another
pair.
As individuals,
pupils rough out on
a blank template
provided an
alternative front
and back cover for
a new edition of the
novel they are
reading.
Using the
frame
provided,
pupils note
the
features of
their front
and back
cover and
compare
them with
the
features of
their
partner’s
covers.
Key Stage 3 National Strategy English with ICT objectives
© Crown copyright 2004
DfES 0109-2004
3
Brilliant Books
Year: 7
Starter
(5 mins)
Lesson 2
Match books with
titles, genres and
blurbs using the
sheet provided cut
into strips.
Introduction
(20 mins)
The teacher models the four-slide
PowerPoint presentation pitching Kit’s
Wilderness to a potential publisher. (A
suggested model is provided.) The
teacher should ‘think aloud’ the choices
he/she makes at each stage based on
annotations on the printout of the slides
of the model provided.
Development
(25 mins)
In pairs, pupils work on their
presentation, making choices
prompted by the notes sheet
provided.
Presentations are saved.
Plenary
(10 mins)
Pairs present their
presentation to
another pair using
their notes sheet to
help them explain
the choices they
made at each
stage.
After each slide pupils (in pairs) apply
the technique demonstrated, producing
their own presentation based on ‘their’
book.
The teacher should emphasise that at
this stage pupils need to concentrate on
learning to use the software and that
they will be thinking about the content
and look of their presentation in the next
stage of the lesson.
Key Stage 3 National Strategy English with ICT objectives
© Crown copyright 2004
DfES 0109-2004
4
Brilliant Books
Year: 7
Lesson 3
Starter
(10 mins)
In pairs, pupils
prepare and deliver a
one-minute ‘sales
pitch’ to their partner
for their ‘newly
invented’ item.
Pupil A: the clothes
peg.
Pupil B: the paper
cup.
Pupils should have a
clothes peg or paper
cup to use in their
presentation so 15 of
each of these items
will be required for a
class of 30.
Introduction
(20 mins)
Using the ‘shared writing’ technique,
the teacher and the class write
speaker’s notes to accompany the
Kit’s Wilderness PowerPoint
presentation developed in the last
lesson. The teacher should emphasise
the use of persuasive techniques.
(See Year 7 objective S&L8 –
Presentational techniques, and the
pupil evaluation sheet provided.)
Development
(25 mins)
In pairs, pupils produce speaker’s notes
for their PowerPoint presentation. All of
the pupils will be speaking about two of
their four slides. If printer provision
allows, notes pages should be printed
out. Alternatively, it is possible to scroll
through the presentation with the slides
and Notes pane on screen.
Plenary
(10 mins)
Pairs of pupils present
their final presentation
to their usual partner
pair.
Pairs evaluate and
discuss the
presentations of their
partner pair.
Presentations with notes need to be
saved.
The teacher demonstrates the use of
the Notes pane for recording speaker’s
notes and Print Preview to review
them.
Key Stage 3 National Strategy English with ICT objectives
© Crown copyright 2004
DfES 0109-2004
5
Advert jigsaw game instructions
Brilliant Books: Lesson 1
Groups of pupils are given one jigsaw piece of the advert in turn.
As each piece is added, each group reports or records (a) what product they think is
being advertised and (b) what clues they have used to inform their guess.
Key Stage 3 National Strategy English with ICT objectives
© Crown copyright 2004
DfES 0109-2004
6
……………………………………………………
…………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………
……………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………
………………………………
………………………………….
……………………………………
by
……………………………..
………………………………………
…………………………………………………….
Key Stage 3 National Strategy English with ICT objectives
© Crown copyright 2004
DfES 0109-2004
7
Key Stage 3 National Strategy English with ICT objectives
© Crown copyright 2004
DfES 0109-2004
8
Book titles, genres and blurbs
Brilliant Books: Lesson 2
Match each book blurb with a title and genre.
[This resource sheet is to be cut into strips, with each title, genre category and
synopsis (blurb) appearing on a separate strip.]
Bill Bryson – The Lost Continent
P D James – The Murder Room
Catrin Collier – Hearts of Gold
John Marsden – Tomorrow when the War Began
Terry Pratchett – The Wee Free Men
Romance
Crime
Sci-fi/Fantasy
Travel
Key Stage 3 National Strategy English with ICT objectives
© Crown copyright 2004
DfES 0109-2004
9
Synopsis
When seven teenagers return home after a week’s camping, they find that their
families are missing, their animals are dead, and the world has drawn to an eerie,
silent halt. Australia has been invaded, and they’re about to learn some truths about
war, and about themselves.
Synopsis
A small, private museum on the edge of Hampstead Heath has been inherited by
three siblings, all of whom are required by the family trust to sign any new lease.
Without the new lease the museum will have to close. One brother, Neville Dupayne,
is adamant that he won’t sign. And then the housekeeper, Mrs Tally Clutton, discovers
Neville’s body in his still blazing car ...
Synopsis
Bethan’s life is a continual struggle to make ends meet. When she meets Andrew at
the hospital, he introduces her to a different style of life away from the poverty and
hardship she’s been used to. But their love is a subject of much gossip.
Synopsis
Miss Perspicacia Tick, a witch of some renown, is worried about a ripple in the walls of
the universe – probably another world making contact. Which is not good. This errant
activity is centred on some chalk country – where, traditionally, good witches simply
do not grow well. Fortunately, Miss Tiffany Aching of Home Farm on The Chalk, nine
years old, misunderstood and yearning for excitement, wants to be a witch and has
just proved herself to be of great potential by whacking a big Green Monster from the
river with a huge frying pan while using her annoying younger brother as bait. Miss
Tick is impressed. So, after travelling to the chalky downs at once and dispensing
some stop-gap advice to Tiffany about holding the fort until she gets back with more
help, Miss Tick is off.
Any hesitation Tiffany may have had about the seriousness of the situation expires
when the Queen of the Fairies kidnaps her younger brother. With the help of a talking
frog, loaned by Miss Tick, and an army of thieving, warmongering, nippy, boozy wee
free men called the Nac Mac Feegle (who used to work for the Queen but rebelled),
Tiffany sets off to rescue her kin.
Synopsis
An account of one man’s rediscovery of America and his search for the perfect small
town. Instead he finds a continent that is doubly lost: lost to itself because it is blighted
by greed, pollution, mobile homes and television; and lost to him because he has
become a foreigner in his own country.
Key Stage 3 National Strategy English with ICT objectives
© Crown copyright 2004
DfES 0109-2004
10
Notes sheet
Feature
Brilliant Books: Lesson 2
Comment
Informative
Persuasive
Key Stage 3 National Strategy English with ICT objectives
© Crown copyright 2004
DfES 0109-2004
11