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STORY & LANGUAGEUNDERSTANDING AND ASSESSING STORY AS YOU READby Kate Walker

A WEEK-LONG LESSON PLAN FOR GRADES 4 – 6 ‘LETTERS OF A CONVICT GIRL – AGE 11’

Contents# – Assessment Outline1 – Prologue & Letter One2 – Letter Two3 – Letter Three4 – Letter Four5 – Letter Five6 – Letter Six7 – Letter Seven8 – Letter Eight9 – Epilogue10 – Write a Letter

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~Text copyright © Kate Walker 2013 ~ ISBN: 9781301876884This lesson material may be reproduced in part or full so long as it made free of charge and authorship attributed to Kate Walker.~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Download ‘Letters of a Convict Girl – Age 11’ in Illustrated PDF form at:Letters-of-a-Convict-Girl-Age11 ~ Kate Walker on Scribd

ASSESSMENT OUTLINE A story is always about a character facing a problem.

Or a character with an uncertainty hanging over them.Or both.

A story happens in a certain place and time.

Writers use language to give meaning and emotion to a story.

Every good story poses the questions: Why did this happen, and what was the outcome?

Every good story answers the question: What does this show about people or society as it is now, or at that moment in history?

NB: I’ve provided the basic, factual answers to questions posed. All subjective answers or investigations of the text are left for students to complete.This book was previously published as ‘The Letters of Rosie O’Brien’.

READ THE PROLOGUE & LETTER ONEThen answer the following questions.

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Q: When does this scene take place?A: Friday 13th April, 1804.

Q: Where does this scene of the story take place?A: In a cell for women prisoners in Newgate Prison in London.

Q: Who is the main character in the story?A: Rosie O’Brien, a young Irish laundress.

Q: What is her problem or what uncertainty hangs over her?A: She’s been put in prison for stealing a lace-edged handkerchief and may not

get out.

Q: What other characters are introduced to the reader in this scene?A: Father Cluney, a priest.

Mrs. Hogbin, the lady who owned the handkerchief.

Da, Rosie’s father, an Irish rebel who has already been imprisoned for fighting for freedom.

Gemma, an English dressmaker of 16 who stole a thimble.

Tom, a young boy imprisoned with his mother.

Tom’s mother, a lady who attacked a gentlemen.

Laura and Ma, Rosie’s sister and mother, to whom her letters are addressed.

Language ~ Choose a few words from the text that show how language and images have been used to portray each of the following in either a positive or negative way.

People: Words that show the character of Rosie – positive or negative?

Words that show the character of Father Cluney – positive or negative?

Words that show the character of Da – positive or negative?

Words that show the character of Mrs. Hogbin – positive or negative?

Words that show the character of Gemma – positive or negative?

Events:Words that show if being in Newgate Prison is a good or bad experience.

Values: Words that show whether the crimes committed by Rosie and other characters, e.g. Da and Tom’s mother, were right or wrong.

Letter Text TypeHave students identify the features and structure of a letter:

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date address greeting body of the letter sign off post script - PS.

Language FeaturesHave students indentify significant language features: first person telling informal tone emotive words action verbs quotation marks used to show direct speech terms of affection or endearment.

VocabularyHave students look up the meanings of significant or unfamiliar words and compile a vocabulary list: accosting confessions

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READ LETTER TWOAnswer the following questions.

Q: When does this scene take place?A: Wednesday 9th May, 1804.

Q: Where does this scene take place?A: First, in the Old Bailey Court in London.

Second, in the cell at Newgate Prison.

Q: What is Rosie’s problem now? Or what uncertainty hangs over her? Has her problem gotten better or worse.

A: Rosie has been sentenced to 14 years imprisonment and is being transported to the colony of New South Wales.

Q: What other characters are present or referred to in this scene?A: Father Cluney, the priest.

Mrs. Hogbin, the lady who owned the handkerchief.

Da, Rosie’s father, already transported to NSW.

Gemma, the English dressmaker.

Tom and his mother.

Language ~ Choose a few words from the text that show how language and images have been used to portray each of the following in either a positive or negative way.

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People: Words that show the character of Rosie – positive or negative // hopeful or despairing?

Words that show the character of Father Cluney – positive or negative // supportive or accusing?

Words that show the character of Da – positive or negative?

Words that show the character of Mrs. Hogbin – positive or negative?

Events:Words that show if being sentenced in court is a good or bad experience.

Values: Words that show if the justice system of the times was fair or unfair.

Vocabulary transported / transportation (in the context of convict relocation)

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READ LETTER THREEThen answer the following questions.

Q: When does this scene take place?A: Wednesday 18th July, 1804.

Q: Where does this scene take place?A: Capetown, South Africa.

In a cell in the hold of a ship.

Q: What is Rosie’s problem now? Or what uncertainty hangs over her? Has her problem gotten better or worse?

A: The prison ship Rosie is on is an unpleasant place, though she’s making the best of it.However, one of her fellow prisoners causes grave problems for her.

Q: What other characters are present or referred to in this scene?A: Gemma, the English dressmaker.

Q: What new characters are introduced in this scene?A: Maudie Lange, another prisoner and trouble-maker.

A young officer.

Language ~ Choose a few words from the text that show how language and images have been used to portray each of the following in either a positive or negative way.

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People: Words that show the character of Rosie – positive or negative // angry or resigned or inventive?

Words that show the character of Gemma – positive or negative?

Words that show the character of Maudie Langue – positive or negative?

Words that show the character of the young officer – positive or negative?

Events:Words that show if being in a prison ship is a good or bad experience.

Values: Words that show if justice on a prison ship is lenient or harsh.

Vocabulary blaggards swabbies

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READ LETTER FOURAnswer the following questions.

Q: When does this scene take place?A: September 1804.

Q: Where does this scene take place?A: Port Jackson, New South Wales.

In a cell in the hold of a ship.

Q: What is Rosie’s problem now? Or what uncertainty hangs over her? Has her problem gotten better or worse?

A: The ship was overtaken by bad weather. Many of the prisoners became ill, some even died. Rosie feared that Gemma would also die.

Q: What other characters are present or referred to in this scene?A: Gemma, the English dressmaker, Maudie and Da.

Language ~ Choose a few words from the text that show how language and images have been used to portray each of the following in either a positive or negative way.

People: Words that show the character of Rosie – positive or negative // hopeful or despairing?

Words that show the character of Gemma – positive or negative?

Words that show the character of Maudie Lange – positive or negative?

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Events:Words that show if being in a prison ship in a storm is a good or bad experience.

Values: Words that show if ill prisoners are cared for or left to die.

Vocabulary conspire

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READ LETTER FIVEAnswer the following questions.

Q: When does this scene take place?A: Monday 10th December 1804.

Q: Where does this scene take place?A: Parramatta, New South Wales.

Various other locations.

Q: What is Rosie’s problem now? Or what uncertainty hangs over her? Has her problem gotten better or worse?

A: Governor King personally threatened her, saying she would be severely punished if she made trouble.Rosie had to fight to save herself and Gemma from the men on the ship and wharf.Rosie ended up separated from her only friend, Gemma, and was taken away to an awful factory for women convicts.

Q: What other characters are present or referred to in this scene?A: Gemma, the English dressmaker, Governor Gidley King, the Young Officer,

and Tom.

Language ~ Choose a few words from the text that show how language and images have been used to portray each of the following in either a positive or negative way.

People: Words that show the character of Rosie – positive or negative // strong or weak // inventive or at a loss?

Words that show the character of Gemma – positive or negative?

Words that show the character of some of the men on the ship and the wharf – positive or negative?

Words that show the character of Tom – positive or negative?

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Events:Words that show what it’s like to suddenly have to protect yourself against overwhelming odds.

Values: Words that show if women prisoners were protected or not by those in charge.

Vocabulary tucker-box scullery

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READ LETTER SIXAnswer the following questions.

Q: When does this scene take place?A: Friday 1st February 1805.

Q: Where does this scene take place?A: Female Factory, Parramatta.

Q: What is Rosie’s problem now? Or what uncertainty hangs over her? Has her problem gotten better or worse.

A: Rosie has been reunited with Gemma. But fears her Da may be dead due to his involvement in the Castle Hill riot.

Q: What other characters are present or referred to in this scene?A: Gemma, Tom, Da and Maudie Lange.

Language ~ Choose a few words from the text that show how language and images have been used to portray each of the following in either a positive or negative way.

People: Words that show the character of Rosie – positive or negative // happy or sad?

Words that show the character of Gemma – positive or negative?

Words that show the character of Tom – positive or negative?

Words that show the character of Maudie Lange – positive or negative?

Events:Words that show what it’s like to suddenly be reunited with a dear friend.

Values: Words that show what it’s like to learn that someone you love may have been ill-treated or even hung by those in charge of running the colony.

Vocabulary

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hearth chain-gang

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READ LETTER SEVENAnswer the following questions.

Q: When does this scene take place?A: Tuesday 12th March 1805.

Q: Where does this scene take place?A: Female Factory, Parramatta and other locations.

Q: What is Rosie’s problem now? Or what uncertainty hangs over her? Has her problem gotten better or worse?

A: Rosie has been freed on a Ticket-of-Leave but cannot come home. which she longs to do, and there is no more news about her Da.

Q: What other characters are present or referred to in this scene?A: Maudie Lange and the overseer.

Language ~ Choose a few words from the text that show how language and images have been used to portray each of the following in either a positive or negative way.

People: Words that show the character of Rosie – positive or negative // happy or sad?

Words that show the character of Maudie Lange – positive or negative?

Words that show the character of the overseer – positive or negative?

Events:Words that show what it’s like to see someone in danger.Words that show what it’s like to be suddenly given your freedom.

Values: Words that show what it’s like to see others ill-treated by those in authority or by persons very much stronger.

Vocabulary dumbfounded

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READ LETTER EIGHTAnswer the following questions.

Q: When does this scene take place?A: Monday 25th November 1805.

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Q: Where does this scene take place?A: Hawkesbury River

Q: What is Rosie’s problem now? Or what uncertainty hangs over her? Has her problem gotten better or worse?

A: Rosie had to choose whether to remain in Parramatta where she’d built up a good laundry trade, or go with her friends, Gemma and James, to the Hawkesbury River and start over.Rosie had to feed the newly arrived convict workers who appeared very dangerous.

Q: What other characters are present or referred to in this scene?A: James and Da.

Language ~ Choose a few words from the text that show how language and images have been used to portray each of the following in either a positive or negative way.

People: Words that show the character of Rosie – positive or negative // afraid or plucky // happy or sad?

Words that show the character of James – positive or negative?

Words that show the character of Da – positive or negative?

Events:Words that show what it’s like to feel threatened, and to threaten others who may be dangerous.Words that show what it’s like to be reunited with someone you love and feared was dead.

Values: Words that show what it’s like to be free and have hope of for a better future for yourself and your loved ones.

Vocabulary gruel victuals

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READ EPILOGUEAnswer the following questions.

Q: When does this summing up take place?A: October 1806.

Q: Where does this summing up take place?A: Hawkesbury River, West of Sydney

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Q: Is Rosie’s problem solved now? Do any more uncertainties hang over her? Have her experiences throughout the story made her life better or worse?Have her experiences changed her as a character – in what ways has she been changed?

Q: What other characters are referred to in this summing up?Did their story experiences make their lives better or worse?

Values: This story deals with a period in British history when some people were very poor and often forced into crime.It was also a time when the justice system was brutal and the most vulnerable people in society – namely children and young women – were afforded no protection from circumstances or from those overseeing them.

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WRITE A LETTERImagine you are Tom, age 20, and you have sailed back to England.

You might write a letter home to Rosie and her family telling them about:~ the voyage back to Enland and what happened on the ship~ arriving in England and how different the land and the weather was~ how you found a job and a place to live. Or you might write a letter to the newspaper telling readers about:~ the long, difficult sea voyage prisoners are force to endure~ how badly prisoners are treated in the colony~ what it is like to have your freedom taken away.

A letter has a special form that includes certain information, such as:~ where it is sent from (the place or address)~ when it is sent (the date)~ who it is sent to (the recipient)~ the body of the letter (the information it contains~ who it is sent from (the sender)

Below is an outline of Rosie’s first letter written to her family from Newgate Prison. [This ‘Letter Writing’ outline can also be downloaded from:http://katewalkerwriter4children.com/letters-of-a-convict-girl-age-11/Located at bottom of webpage page.]

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Write a first draft of your letter.

Read over your first draft:~ Can you change some words and images to make your facts clearer?~ Can you change some words and images to make your statements sound stronger and more persuasive?

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Dear Teacher & Homeschoolers,I’m more than happy to hear from you with suggestions about improving or embellishing on this lesson plan. Feel free to contact me through my webpage at http://www.katewalkerwriter4children.com.

Best wishes, Kate

CREATIVE WRITING EXERCISES

I spent many years teaching writing to children and adults and over that time developed some unique approaches which make the teaching of writing stress for teachers and students alike.

Step By Step StoriesA unique approach to teaching & learning story craft & writing in the classroom. No preparation required. Just open the booklet and read out the lesson.

eBook - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/317586

PDF - Step-by-Step-Stories-Grades-4-7-Kate-Walker on Scribd

Writing EnrichmentClassroom exercises that guide students through the basics of good creative writing. Low stress exercises, easy for students and teachers alike.

eBook - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/308829

PDF - Writing-Enrichment-Grades-5-10-Kate-Walker on Scribd

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