Adult Literacy Rs/E3.1 Recognise & understand the organisational features & typical language of instructional texts

For a list of resources that cover this specific curriculum element SCROLL DOWN  

Adult Literacy>Reading>Sentence Focus>Grammar & Punctuation 
Rs/E3.1 Recognise and understand the organisational features and typical language of instructional texts, e.g. use of imperatives and second person 

  • Understand that instructional texts have particular language features, and be able to recognise them 
  • Understand that their own knowledge of these features can be applied to help gain meaning from other instructional texts 
  • Know and use the term verb and understand its importance as an essential feature of a sentence which conveys the action 
  • Understand that verbs also convey time in a sentence: past, present, future

Related Adult ESOL curriculum element: ESOL Rs/E3.1a Recognise the generic features of language of instructional texts

Example of application and level:

Recognise the language of instructions in their own life, e.g.:
Write in block capitals.
– Put the CD in the drive.
– Empty contents into a saucepan and stir gently over a low heat.

Sample activities

  • Read some simple instructions closely. Highlight examples of key sentence and language features, e.g.: opening statement of purpose; individual sentences often convey separate steps; the reader is addressed directly (in the second person); the reader is told what to do
    (imperative verbs).
  • Practise recognising commands by sorting phrases and sentences into two separate lists of commands and statements using a computer, e.g. Check the form, Take care, We'll meet you at 4pm, Complete in BLOCK CAPITALS, Sorry I missed you, etc.
  • Complete a cloze exercise in which all missing words are verbs, some in the imperative, some in simple present and past tenses. Read to check for sense.

Source: Department for Education and Skills (2001) Adult Literacy core curriculum. London DfES.  

A PPT about imperatives. Students identify imperatives and the language / layout of instructions, then have a go at writing their own.

Editor’s note
For sample instruction texts please to use with this PPT please see Carrie’s “Lasagne instructions” ,“Glass bead steriliser instructions” or “Pancake imperatives” below.

Level
Level 1
Entry Level 3
Entry Level 2
English
Functional English - writing
Wt/E2.1
AL Rt/E2.1 Follow main points of short texts
Adult Literacy Rs/E3.1 Recognise & understand the organisational features & typical language of instructional texts
Rs/E2.1

Cards to help students recognise what nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs.
They can then play the bingo game or use highlighter pens to identify the different parts of speech in a text.

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
Rs/L2.1 Use implicit and explicit grammatical knowledge
Adult Literacy Rs/L1.1 Use implicit and explicit grammatical knowledge
Adult Literacy Rs/E3.2 Use implicit & explicit knowledge of word types/order to help with decoding/predicting meaning
Adult Literacy Rs/E3.1 Recognise & understand the organisational features & typical language of instructional texts

A topical resource to revise features of instructional texts and imperative verbs.
Fully mapped to Functional English and ideal for mixed ability groups.

Level
Level 1
Entry Level 3
English
AL Rt/E3.1 Understand longer texts
Adult Literacy Rs/E3.1 Recognise & understand the organisational features & typical language of instructional texts
Functional English reading
Context
Catering Food Nutrition

A simple exercise where students separate the words from the Wordle into nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs.

Level
Level 1
Entry Level 3
English
Adult Literacy Rs/L1.1 Use implicit and explicit grammatical knowledge
Adult Literacy Rs/E3.2 Use implicit & explicit knowledge of word types/order to help with decoding/predicting meaning
Adult Literacy Rs/E3.1 Recognise & understand the organisational features & typical language of instructional texts
General literacy / English

Lovely introduction to nouns, verbs and adjectives. For E2-3 ESOL and Literacy.
Start with the PPT which is based on a very tasty bakery theme and includes information and examples for students to work through. Follow this with the handout and a highlighting exercise.

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
English
Adult Lit Ws/E2.2 Use Adjectives
Adult Literacy Rs/E3.2 Use implicit & explicit knowledge of word types/order to help with decoding/predicting meaning
Adult Literacy Rs/E3.1 Recognise & understand the organisational features & typical language of instructional texts
ESOL
ESOL Ws/E2.2a Use adjectives
ESOL Rs/E3.1b Use knowledge of syntax and grammar to work out meaning
Context
Catering Food Nutrition

Learners will re-write16 sentences as instructions in the imperative form.
With scaffolded help, examples, and a range of sentence styles to adapt.

Level
Entry Level 3
English
Adult Literacy Rs/E3.1 Recognise & understand the organisational features & typical language of instructional texts
Rt/E3.3
Adult Literacy: writing - punctuation & grammar (Ws)

A fabulous set of illustrated instructions. Makes a great activity for literacy and numeracy classes (reading instructions, measuring, shapes, etc.) at many levels.
For an easy to use template please see Bryan Fitzpatrick’s accompany resource below.

Level
Level 1
Entry Level 3
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 1
English
Adult Literacy Rs/E3.1 Recognise & understand the organisational features & typical language of instructional texts
Adult Literacy: Reading
Maths
Measures shape and space
General
Generic resources for literacy, numeracy and beyond

A super writing and discussion exercise that gets hairdressing students thinking about the importance of writing clear instructions. Will also spark off other activities as suggested in the accompanying teacher’s notes. Also mapped to Entry 3 Functional English (writing).

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
English
Functional English - writing
Adult Literacy Rs/E3.1 Recognise & understand the organisational features & typical language of instructional texts
Adult Literacy: Engage in Discussion
Adult Literacy: writing composition (Wt)
Context
Hairdressing & Beauty therapy

Two beautiful word clouds to help with recognising verbs, nouns and prepositions. With instructions, answers and extension ideas.
Wordle is a brilliant on-line, completely free word cloud creator.
See our blog articles for more Wordle teaching and learning ideas:
http://skillsworkshop.blogspot.com/2008/07/using-wordle-in-classroom.ht…

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
English
Adult Literacy Rs/E3.1 Recognise & understand the organisational features & typical language of instructional texts
Adult Literacy Rs/E3.2 Use implicit & explicit knowledge of word types/order to help with decoding/predicting meaning
Adult Literacy Rs/L1.1 Use implicit and explicit grammatical knowledge

A great introduction to this tricky topic – using lots of example sentences along with questions to the audience.

Level
Entry Level 3
English
Adult Literacy Rs/E3.1 Recognise & understand the organisational features & typical language of instructional texts
Ws/E3.2