| Full lesson | Create for a teacher a set of content for giving a lesson, beginning with the lesson plan. Each new block of materials must begin with an H1 heading (other subheaders must be H2, H3, etc). When you describe required pictures, write those descriptions in curly brackets, for example: {A picture of a triangle} |
| Which subject | Reading |
| What topic | Informal Text |
| What length (min) | 30 |
| What age group | College |
| Class size | 20 |
| What curriculum | New Zealand |
| Include full script | |
| Check previous homework | |
| Ask some students to presents their homework | |
| Add a physical break | |
| Add group activities | |
| Include homework | |
| Show correct answers | |
| Prepare slide templates | |
| Number of slides | 5 |
| Create fill-in cards for students | |
| Create creative backup tasks for unexpected moments |
College (Approximately 18-19 years old)
Reading
Informal Text
30 minutes
20 Students
Aligned with New Zealand Curriculum standards for reading comprehension and analysis of various text types.
| Step Number | Step Title | Length | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction | 5 min | Briefly introduce the concept of informal texts. Explain their relevance and characteristics. |
| 2 | Group Activity | 10 min | Divide students into groups of 4. Provide each group with different informal texts to analyze. They will identify key features and discuss their findings. |
| 3 | Group Presentations | 5 min | Each group shares their findings with the class. Monitor the discussions, providing feedback and clarification if needed. Note that this won't be a formal presentation; groups share informally. |
| 4 | Class Discussion | 5 min | Facilitate a whole class discussion summarizing the features identified in informal texts and their purposes. |
| 5 | Homework Assignment | 3 min | Assign homework related to the analysis of informal texts without requiring students to present their work in front of the class. |
| 6 | Conclusion | 2 min | Recap the lesson's key points and encourage students to explore more informal texts outside of class. |
Ensure that all informal texts selected are culturally relevant and appropriate for the students, considering the diverse backgrounds present in the classroom.
"Good morning, class! Today, we are going to explore the fascinating world of informal texts. Can anyone tell me what they think an informal text is?
[Pause for responses]
"Great ideas! Informal texts are typically casual and personal. They include things like letters, emails, blogs, social media posts, and more. These texts are important because they help us communicate in everyday situations. They also have unique features that differ from formal writing.
"Throughout today's lesson, we’ll focus on identifying these characteristics, understanding their purpose, and discussing their intended audience. So, let’s dive in!"
"Now that we have a solid understanding of what informal texts are, I’m going to divide you into small groups of four. Each group will receive a set of different informal texts to analyze.
[Distribute copies of informal texts]
"Take about 10 minutes to read through your set of texts together. Discuss among your group members and identify key features. Think about questions like: What makes these texts informal? Who do you think the intended audience is? What is the purpose behind them?
"You can make notes to help guide your discussion, and feel free to use the whiteboard if you want to jot down your ideas.
"Ready? Start your discussions now!"
"Alright, time’s up! Let’s come back together as a class. Each group will now have a chance to share what you discovered. Remember, this is not a formal presentation; just share your findings in a relaxed manner.
[Call on each group in turn]
"Group one, why don’t you start us off? What were some key features of the texts you analyzed?"
[Encourage each group to share and provide feedback]
"Fantastic insights! It’s really interesting to see the variety in informal texts and how their purposes change based on the audience.
"Let's keep these points in mind as we move into our next step."
“Now that we’ve heard from all the groups, let’s have a broader discussion about the features we identified. What are some common characteristics of informal texts?
[Pause for responses from students]
"Those are excellent points. Informal texts often use conversational language, humor, and can include personal anecdotes. They’re designed to connect with the reader on a personal level.
"Can anyone give an example of what types of topics might be covered in informal texts?"
[Encourage engagement and note key contributions on the whiteboard]
"Great examples, everyone. It’s clear that informal texts play an important role in our communication."
"Before we wrap up, I want to give you a homework assignment. I’d like you to find an informal text on your own—this could be a blog post, an email, or even a text message conversation.
"Once you’ve found one, analyze it by answering the following questions: What are its key features? What is the purpose of the text and who is the intended audience?
"Don’t worry; you won’t have to present this in class, but be prepared to discuss your findings in our next session.
"Please write down your assigned texts and the questions to think about."
"Thank you, everyone, for your active participation today! Remember, informal texts are everywhere in our daily lives, and understanding them can enhance our communication skills.
"Before we end, any final questions or thoughts about today’s lesson?
[Pause for any last questions]
"Great! I encourage you to read more informal texts in your own time. They can provide a lot of insight into different ways people express their thoughts and ideas.
“Have a wonderful day, everyone!”
Find an example of an informal text (e.g., a blog post, email, post on social media, or a text message conversation). Include the text (or a substantial excerpt) with your assignment.
Identify and list three key features of the informal text you selected. Consider aspects like language style, tone, and structure.
What is the purpose of the text? Explain why the author might have chosen to write informally.
Who is the intended audience for the informal text? Describe how you determined this based on the text's content and style.
Reflect on how the informal nature of the text affects its effectiveness. Do you think it achieves its purpose? Why or why not?
Choose one aspect of informal communication that you found interesting during our class discussion. Explain why it stood out to you and how it relates to your understanding of informal texts.
Finally, think about your own experiences with informal texts. Share a brief personal anecdote about a time you used informal communication. How did it feel different from formal communication?
What differences do you notice between informal texts and formal texts? Can you provide examples of each?
How does the audience impact the way informal texts are written? Can you think of a specific example where the audience influenced the tone?
What type of informal text do you enjoy reading the most, and why? What features of that text stand out to you?
Can you share a personal experience where an informal text (like a text message or social media post) successfully conveyed a message? What made it effective?
If you were to write a blog post about a hobby you enjoy, what key features would you include to make it more relatable to your audience?