Paragraphs in Biographies

Application and Reasoning Step 5: Paragraphs in Biographies

National Curriculum Objectives:

Introduction to paragraphs as a way to group related material Headings and sub-headings to aid presentation

Differentiation:

Questions 1, 4 and 7 (Application) Developing Use the paragraphs in the biography to order 3 events. Paragraphs to include mostly short, simple sentences. Expected Use the paragraphs in the biography to order 4 events. Paragraphs to include a range of conjunctions to extend sentences and text. Greater Depth Use the paragraphs in the biography to order 6 events, including multiple events per paragraph. Paragraphs to include more complex and descriptive vocabulary including a broader range of conjunctions.

Questions 2, 5 and 8 (Reasoning) Developing Explain where a new paragraph should be placed in the text. Paragraphs to include mostly short, simple sentences. Expected Explain where a new paragraph should be placed in the text. Paragraphs to include a range of conjunctions to extend sentences and text. Greater Depth Explain where a new paragraph should be placed in the text. Paragraphs to include more complex and descriptive vocabulary including a broader range of conjunctions.

Questions 3, 6 and 9 (Reasoning) Developing Explain why or why not the text would still make sense if a given paragraph was taken out. Paragraphs to include mostly short, simple sentences. Expected Explain why or why not the text would still make sense if a given paragraph was taken out. Paragraphs to include a range of conjunctions to extend sentences and text. Greater Depth Explain why or why not the text would still make sense if a given paragraph was taken out. Paragraphs to include more complex and descriptive vocabulary including a broader range of conjunctions.

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J. K. Rowling

Joanne Rowling is a writer. Her most famous books are the Harry Potter series. It is the best-selling book series in history. It has sold more than 500 million copies.

Joanne was born on 31st July 1965 in England. She has a sister called Dianne. Joanne wrote stories when she was a child. She read them to Dianne.

In 1990, she was stuck on a train. She came up with an idea for a story. She wanted to write about a boy at a school for wizards. She started writing when she got home.

In 1995, Joanne finished writing ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’. She hired an agent. They sent the book to 12 publishers. None of them liked it. Bloomsbury published the book. The chairman’s daughter loved it. Joanne wrote 7 Harry Potter books.

From 2012 to 2018, she wrote 5 books for adults. She used the name Robert Galbraith. In 2015, Joanne said she had written a play with 2 playwriters. It was called ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’. It was about Harry Potter’s son Albus.

1a. Use the organisation of the paragraphs in the biography to put these events in order from earliest to latest.

She loved to write stories She was born on when she was a child. 31st July 1965.

She wrote the Harry Potter books. D A

2a. Oscar has written the paragraph below.

In 2001, she married her husband Neil Murrary. He is a Scottish doctor. They have a son called David and a daughter called Mackenzie. Joanne has a daughter called Jessica too.

Where in the text could it go? Explain your reasoning.

D R

3a. Charlotte takes paragraph 2 out of the biography.

Does the text still make sense? Convince me.

D R

Freddie Mercury

Farrokh Bulsara is most well known as Freddie Mercury. He was a famous singer and songwriter. He sang for the band Queen.

Freddie was born in Zanzibar on 5th September 1946. He had a sister called Kashmira. Freddie grew up in India. He learnt to play the piano. He started a school band when he was twelve. Freddie moved to England in 1964.

He was in a few bands. He met Brian May and Roger Taylor. He became the lead singer of their band in 1970. It was called ‘Smile’. He changed the name to ‘Queen’. John Deacon joined in 1971.

In 1973, Queen’s first album came out. Their second album was more popular. Freddie wrote the song ‘Seven Seas of Rhye’. It was their very first hit. They were getting more famous. They released 15 albums altogether.

Freddie died on 24th November 1991. He was 45. He is remembered for his special voice.

1b. Use the organisation of the paragraphs in the biography to put these events in order from earliest to latest.

He died on 24th He was born on 5th November 1991. September 1946.

He met Brian May and Roger Taylor. D A

2b. Curtis has written the paragraph below.

In 1972, they got a deal with Trident Studios. Norman Sheffield was their manager. They started to record their first album. The studio had lots of equipment. The Beatles and Elton John had used it.

Where in the text could it go? Explain your reasoning.

D R

3b. Lily takes paragraph 4 out of the biography.

Does the text still make sense? Convince me.

D R

J. K. Rowling

Joanne Rowling is a famous writer who is most well known for writing the Harry Potter series of books. It is the best-selling book series in history after selling over 500 million copies around the world.

Joanne was born on 31st July 1965 in Yate, England. She has a younger sister called Dianne. Joanne loved to write fantasy stories as a child and read them to her sister.

In 1990, when she was stuck on a train, she came up with the idea for a story about a boy at a school of wizardry. She started writing as soon as she got home.

Joanne finished writing ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ in 1995. She hired an agent who sent the book to 12 publishers. None of them were interested. Bloomsbury agreed to publish the book when the chairman’s daughter Alice fell in love with it after reading the first chapter. Joanne wrote 6 more books for the series.

Between 2012 and 2018, she wrote 5 novels for adults in the name of Robert Galbraith. In 2015, Joanne announced that she had written the play ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ with the playwriters Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, about Harry Potter’s son Albus.

4a. Use the organisation of the paragraphs in the biography to put these events in order from earliest to latest.

The first Harry Potter She thought of the idea for book was published. Harry Potter on a train.

Joanne wrote a play Joanne was born with 2 playwriters. in Yate, England. E A

5a. Majid has written the paragraph below.

Joanne’s mum died in December 1990 when the first Harry Potter book was being written. Joanne had never told her mum about her story idea. She started to write more about Harry’s feelings of loss in the book after losing her mum.

Where in the text could it go? Explain your reasoning.

E R

6a. Katie takes paragraph 3 out of the biography.

Does the text still make sense? Convince me.

E R

Freddie Mercury

Farrokh Bulsara, who is most well known as Freddie Mercury, was a singer and songwriter. He was the lead singer of the rock band Queen.

Freddie was born in Zanzibar on 5th September 1946. He had a younger sister called Kashmira. Freddie grew up in India and when he was seven years old, he started to play the piano. When he was twelve, he started a school band called ‘The Hectics’. Freddie and his family moved to England in 1964.

He performed in a few different bands until he met Brian May and Roger Taylor. He became the lead singer of their band called ‘Smile’ in 1970 and changed their name to ‘Queen’. John Deacon joined them in 1971.

In July 1973, Queen released their first album. Their second album brought them more attention. A song Freddie wrote called ‘Seven Seas of Rhye’ was their very first hit. They became more popular and they released 15 albums altogether.

Freddie died on 24th November 1991 at the age of 45. He is remembered for his unique voice and his dramatic performances.

4b. Use the organisation of the paragraphs in the biography to put these events in order from earliest to latest.

Freddie died at Freddie and his family the age of 45. moved to England.

Queen released He began learning their first album. to play the piano. E A

5b. Shane has written the paragraph below.

Freddie released a solo album in 1985 which was called ‘Mr Bad Guy’. His album made it to the top 10 of the UK Album Charts. He recorded the album ‘Barcelona’ in 1988 with the singer Montserrat Caballé which was a mix of pop and opera music.

Where in the text could it go? Explain your reasoning.

E R

6b. Bella takes paragraph 2 out of the biography.

Does the text still make sense? Convince me.

E R

J. K. Rowling

Joanne Rowling is a famous writer. She is most well known for writing the Harry Potter series of books which is the best-selling book series in history after selling over 500 million copies worldwide. All of the books in the series were also produced as films.

On 31st July 1965, Joanne was born in Yate, England. Her younger sister is called Dianne. When they were children, Joanne loved to write fantasy stories and read them to her sister.

In 1990, when she was stuck on a train, she suddenly thought of the idea for a story about a boy at a school of wizardry. As soon as she got home, she started writing.

‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ was completed in 1995. She hired an agent who sent the book to 12 different publishers. All of them rejected it. A year later, Bloomsbury agreed to publish the book when the chairman’s daughter Alice fell in love with it after reading the first chapter. Joanne wrote 6 more books for the series.

Since finishing the main Harry Potter series, she wrote 5 more novels in the name of Robert Galbraith between the years 2012 and 2018. In 2015, Joanne revealed that she had written a play called ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ with the playwriters Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, about the life of Harry Potter’s son Albus.

7a. Use the organisation of the paragraphs in the biography to put these events in order from earliest to latest.

She wrote 6 more Her sister Dianne The idea for Harry Potter Harry Potter books. was born. came to her on a train.

12 publishers rejected She wrote 5 novels Bloomsbury agreed to Harry Potter. for adults. publish Harry Potter. GD A

8a. Greg has written the paragraph below.

Warner Bros created the films for the Harry Potter series. Joanne helped the screenwriter Steve Kloves to write the scripts and checked them all before they were filmed. She also helped to produce the final films in the series. Warner agreed to film in Britain with a British cast.

Where in the text could it go? Explain your reasoning.

GD R

9a. Alina takes paragraph 4 out of the biography.

Does the text still make sense? Convince me.

GD R

Freddie Mercury

Farrokh Bulsara, who is mostly recognised as Freddie Mercury, was a singer and songwriter. He is famous for being the lead singer of the rock band Queen.

On 5th September 1946, Freddie was born in Zanzibar. He had a younger sister called Kashmira. Freddie grew up in India and when he was seven years old, he began learning to play the piano. At the age of twelve, he started a school band called ‘The Hectics’. Freddie and his family moved to England in 1964 to escape the fighting in Zanzibar.

As a young man, he performed in a few different bands until he met Brian May and Roger Taylor. He became the lead singer of their band called ‘Smile’ in 1970 and soon changed their name to ‘Queen’. John Deacon joined them as a bass player in 1971.

In July 1973, Queen released their first album to the public. Until their second album was released, they didn’t get a lot of attention. A song Freddie wrote called ‘Seven Seas of Rhye’ was their very first hit. Their popularity grew and they released 15 albums altogether.

Freddie died on 24th November 1991 at the age of 45. He is remembered for his unique voice, Queen’s large range of song styles and his dramatic performances.

7b. Use the organisation of the paragraphs in the biography to put these events in order from earliest to latest.

He met John Deacon. He moved to England. He grew up in India.

He started a band His song ‘Seven Seas He released his first called ‘The Hectics’. of Rhye’ was a hit. album with Queen. GD A

8b. Harry has written the paragraph below.

Freddie studied art in West London then studied graphic art and design at Ealing Art College. After his graduation, he did lots of different jobs including selling second- hand clothes in Kensington Market and working as a baggage handler at Heathrow Airport.

Where in the text could it go? Explain your reasoning.

GD R

9b. Felicity takes paragraph 3 out of the biography.

Does the text still make sense? Convince me.

GD R

© Classroom Secrets Limited 2019 classroomsecrets.co.uk Application and Reasoning – Paragraphs in Biographies – Year 3 Greater Depth Application and Reasoning Application and Reasoning Paragraphs in Biographies Paragraphs in Biographies

Developing Developing 1a. She was born on 31st July 1965. She 1b. He was born on 5th September 1946. loved to write stories when she was a He met Brian May and Roger Taylor. He child. She wrote the Harry Potter books. died on 24th November 1991. 2a. The paragraph could go between 2b. The paragraph should go between paragraphs 4 and 5 because J.K. Rowling paragraphs 3 and 4 because they got the got married after the first Harry Potter book deal with Trident after they formed the was published and before she started band and before they released their first writing as Robert Galbraith. album. 3a. The text still makes sense because 3b. The text still makes sense because paragraph 2 only explains when and paragraph 4 only explains when they where she was born and her love for released their albums and how popular writing as a child. they were.

Expected Expected 4a. Joanne was born in Yate, England. She 4b. He began learning to play the piano. thought of the idea for Harry Potter on a Freddie and his family moved to England. train. The first Harry Potter book was Queen released their first album. Freddie published. Joanne wrote a play with 2 died at the age of 45. playwriters. 5b. The paragraph should go between 5a. The paragraph should go between paragraphs 4 and 5 because he released paragraphs 3 and 4 because J. K. ‘Mr Bad Guy’ and ‘Barcelona’ after his first Rowling’s mum died after she started albums with Queen and before his death. writing Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s 6b. The text still makes sense because Stone but before she had finished it. paragraph 2 only explains when and 6a. The text still makes sense because where he was born and his life before paragraph 3 only explains when she moving to England. came up with the idea and started writing.

Greater Depth Greater Depth 7a. Her sister Dianne was born. The idea 7b. He grew up in India. He started a band for Harry Potter came to her on a train. 12 called ‘The Hectics’. He moved to publishers rejected Harry Potter. England. He met John Deacon. He Bloomsbury agreed to publish Harry Potter. released his first album with Queen. His She wrote 6 more Harry Potter books. She song ‘Seven Seas of Rhye’ was a hit. wrote 5 novels for adults. 8b. The paragraph should go between 8a. The paragraph should go between paragraphs 2 and 3 because he studied paragraphs 4 and 5 because the films art and worked a range of jobs after he were recorded after Harry Potter and the moved to England and before he joined Philosopher’s Stone was published and the band ‘Queen’. before she published her novels for adults 9b. The text does not make sense as Robert Galbraith. because paragraph 4 follows on from the 9a. The text does not make sense information in paragraph 3 where Freddie because paragraph 5 follows on from the joined the band ‘Queen’. information in paragraph 4 where Joanne wrote the Harry Potter series.