ESOL Rt/L1.1a Understand how meaning is built up in paragraphed texts

Understand and identify the different ways in which meaning is built up in paragraphed texts in a range of genres (i) Read a range of continuous descriptive, explanatory and persuasive texts, of varying complexity, according to own contexts, needs and interests (ii) Select an approach to reading which is appropriate for the text type and reason for reading (iii) Recognise textual features, e.g. layout, type of sentence, type of lexis, of a range of genres, and apply this understanding to help predict and understand meaning (iv) Relate the parts of a text to each other to get an overall sense of what the text is about, and use an understanding of how texts are normally structured in order to do so (v) Apply knowledge of context, grammar and lexis to help with determining overall sense, in texts which include complex sentences and a range of grammatical forms and lexical collocations (vi) Recognise implied as well as explicitly stated meaning, e.g. when reading a review to decide which programme or film to watch (vii) Recognise that it is possible to react to texts in different ways, e.g. reading a persuasive text critically, reading a short story with an interpretive approach, or following health and safety guidelines (which are less open to interpretation) (viii) Know that texts may be wrong or inconsistent and read critically with this in mind (ix) Use knowledge of different forms of paragraph structure and the variety of ways in which paragraphs link together to aid both global understanding and comprehension of the main points, ideas and events, e.g. the use of the connective in the last paragraph we discussed... to establish a link between paragraphs

Explanations and practice with the organisational markers "therefore" and "as a result": how they are used to indicate a logical sequence or cause-and-effect relationships in writing. 

Editor's notes

With two sets of challenging gap-fill sentences to complete.

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
ESOL
ESOL Rs/E3.1b Use knowledge of syntax and grammar to work out meaning
ESOL Wt/E3.3a Show sequence through the use of discourse markers and conjunctions
ESOL Rt/L1.1a Understand how meaning is built up in paragraphed texts
ESOL Rs/L1.1a Use implicit & explicit grammatical knowledge to predict meaning & check for sense
ESOL Wt/L1.3a Structure texts sequentially and coherently according to genre
ESOL Rt/L2.4a Understand and identify how written arguments are structured
ESOL Wt/L2.3a Use different types of paragraph structure and linguistic features to aid sequencing and coherence

Read an exemplar answer to a writing question about Disappearing High Streets. Then plan and write your own article. Choice of two writing tasks (for Level 1-2 Functional Skills English). 

  • Gambling and the National Lottery 
  • How to get children off their computers and more active 

Editor's notes

This is just what other Functional English teachers need: I think it’s so important for learners to have realistic exemplar/model pieces of writing so they know what they’re aiming for. Also useful for ESOL.

Level
Level 1
Level 2
English
FE L1.12 Recognise that language & other textual features can be varied to suit different audiences & purposes
FE L1.14 Understand organisational / structural features use to locate relevant information
FE L2.14 Understand how textual features/devices can shape meaning for different audiences/purposes
FE L2.16 Understand organisational features & use to locate relevant information in a range of sources
FE L1.24 Use format, structure & language appropriate for audience & purpose
FE L2.25 Organise writing for different purposes using appropriate format & structure e.g. standard templates, paragraphs, bullet points, tables
FE L1.23 Write text of appropriate level of detail & length to meet needs of purpose & audience
FE L2.24 Write text of appropriate level of detail & length to meet needs of purpose & audience
ESOL
ESOL Rt/L1.2a Know how language and other textual features are used to achieve different purposes
ESOL Rt/L2.2a Identify the purposes of a wide range of texts, whether inferred or explicitly stated
ESOL Rt/L1.1a Understand how meaning is built up in paragraphed texts
ESOL Rt/L2.1a Identify different ways meaning is built up in a range of texts of varying genres
Context
Retail Hospitality Customer service
Voluntary, Charity and Community
Health, Social care, Early years
Family and relationships

Read an example of a report (about the facilities at a new community centre). Then plan and write your own report about a local park. For Level 1 and 2 Functional Skills English.

Editor's notes

This is just what other Functional English teachers need: I think it’s so important for learners to have realistic exemplar/model pieces of writing so they know what they’re aiming for. Also useful for ESOL.

Level
Level 1
Level 2
English
FE L1.12 Recognise that language & other textual features can be varied to suit different audiences & purposes
FE L1.14 Understand organisational / structural features use to locate relevant information
FE L2.14 Understand how textual features/devices can shape meaning for different audiences/purposes
FE L2.16 Understand organisational features & use to locate relevant information in a range of sources
FE L1.24 Use format, structure & language appropriate for audience & purpose
FE L2.25 Organise writing for different purposes using appropriate format & structure e.g. standard templates, paragraphs, bullet points, tables
FE L1.23 Write text of appropriate level of detail & length to meet needs of purpose & audience
FE L2.24 Write text of appropriate level of detail & length to meet needs of purpose & audience
ESOL
ESOL Rt/L1.2a Know how language and other textual features are used to achieve different purposes
ESOL Rt/L2.2a Identify the purposes of a wide range of texts, whether inferred or explicitly stated
ESOL Rt/L1.1a Understand how meaning is built up in paragraphed texts
ESOL Rt/L2.1a Identify different ways meaning is built up in a range of texts of varying genres
Context
Voluntary, Charity and Community
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism
Employment skills & Public services

This is an activity on New Year. It was written for an E3 ESOL class but could be adapted for E2 fairly easily too. There is a reading comprehension, a group activity, writing practice and also an optional cut-up “top Ten” resolutions activity.

I haven’t done a lesson plan to go with the resources as I think they could be easily adapted and used in different ways.

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
English
Adult Literacy: writing composition (Wt)
AL Rt/L1.1 Understand continuous texts
AL Rt/E3.1 Understand longer texts
ESOL
ESOL Rt/L1.1a Understand how meaning is built up in paragraphed texts
ESOL Rt/E3.1a Understand how meaning is built up in a variety texts of more than one paragraph
ESOL: Writing - text focus (composition)
Context
History, culture, museums, libraries

A first person autobiographical account of life in outback Australia.
Exercises include comprehension questions using when, where etc.
A revision of past tense verbs – regular and irregular.
A fill the gap using the correct verb tense.
A writing prompt for students to write about themselves – emphasising the use of conjunctions and short paragraphs.
A Wordsearch.
Includes a glossary of Australian words used in the text.

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
English
Adult Lit Wt/L1.1 Plan and draft writing
Wt/E3.2
AL Wt/E3.1 Plan & draft writing
Ws/L1.2
Adult Lit Ws/L1.1 Write in complete sentences
Ws/E3.2
Ws/E3.1
AL Rt/L1.1 Understand continuous texts
AL Rt/E3.1 Understand longer texts
ESOL
ESOL Wt/L1.1a Apply genre-specific planning strategies as appropriate
ESOL Wt/E3.2a
ESOL Wt/E3.1a Recognise the process of planning and drafting
ESOL Ws/L1.2a
ESOL Ws/L1.1a Write using complex sentences
ESOL Ws/E3.2a Use basic sentence grammar accurately
ESOL Ws/E3.1a Write using complex sentences
ESOL Rt/L1.1a Understand how meaning is built up in paragraphed texts
ESOL Rt/E3.1a Understand how meaning is built up in a variety texts of more than one paragraph
Context
History, culture, museums, libraries