Writing to inform, explain and describe

Who is William Shakespeare?

TASK:
Based on your research into William Shakespeare, his life and works, and
your knowledge of the plot of you are going to create a piece of informative
writing. This will take the form of any of the following:
• a straightforward information sheet (1 side of A4)
• a booklet (A4 sheet folded once, use all four sides)
• a leaflet (A4 sheet folded into thirds, use all sections).
So, essentially, everyone will have to organise their collated research
material on to a sheet of plain A4 paper.

PURPOSE AND AUDIENCE:

Your information sheet is being written for a group of year three pupils.
This is where you come in! You are going to write and design your piece of
informative writing so that they receive a potted (brief and succinct)
history of:
• The man himself - family, jobs, where he lived, significant events, etc.
• his plays
• Elizabethan life (including the past-time of theatre going)

POINTS TO CONSIDER
Think VERY carefully about the way in which you present your work. It will
not be difficult to find plenty of excellent material to use, but the skill will
be presenting it in a format that is interesting, readable, palatable and
clear. Remember, nobody is going to want to read two sides of dense text.
Make use of sections, headings, pictures, borders, different fonts, etc, to
make your content and layout appealing and interesting.
Don't overload your reader with too much information, but on the other
hand, make sure you give them enough to whet their Shakespearian
appetites! Remember their age and think carefully about what you think
they will want to know.
Your work should be word processed using whatever software you are
familiar with.
You will have TWO weeks to complete this homework.

© 2008 www.teachitprimary.co.uk 10381 Page 1 of 3

 Writing to inform, explain and describe

Who is William Shakespeare?

Task:
A piece of writing about what you have found out about William
Shakespeare.
You will write about his life and works, and your knowledge of the plot of:

_________________________________________________________________

You will write either

• an information sheet (use one side of A4)
• A booklet (A4 sheet folded once, use all four sides)
• A leaflet (A4 sheet folded into thirds, use all sections).

Purpose and audience

• It is for a group of year 3 pupils.
• They have heard of William Shakespeare (who hasn't!) and they know
that he wrote lots of famous plays and they know he lived in England a
long time ago, but haven't yet studied his life and works in any detail.

Your information sheet / booklet / leaflet will tell them about

• the man himself:
• his family
• his jobs
• where he lived.

It will also include information about his work, such as

• his plays
• his other works (sonnets etc)
• his influences were …
• where his plays were performed.

You may also want to include some information about Elizabethan life
(including the past-time of theatre going).
© 2008 www.teachitprimary.co.uk 10381 Page 2 of 3
 Writing to inform, explain and describe

Points to consider:

Remember to make it...

interesting

readable

clear

Think about how you use

• sections
• headings
• pictures
• different fonts.

Think about the age of the readers and

what you think they will want to know.

Use a computer.

You will have TWO weeks to complete this assignment.

© 2008 www.teachitprimary.co.uk 10381 Page 3 of 3