ENGLISH HOME LANGUAGE WEEKS 3 & 4:

GRADE 9 TERM 2
WRITING AND PRESENTING

Activity 1: What is a documentary?

A documentary is a very detailed factual report on a
specific subject. Documentaries make use of pictures,
video footage and interviews with specialists in order
to educate people about specific subjects.

Documentaries can fall into many categories and

can vary widely in topic but they are always about
real things or events.

Some popular types of documentaries include:

• Nature documentaries
• Historical documentaries

To write a documentary of your own you need to:

1. Choose a subject you are passionate about.
2. Do extensive research to make sure that you are covering the subject in the fullest and
most accurate way possible.
3. Make sure to include basic information and then expand on specific points as much as
possible.

Watch the following video as an example:

He spent 40 years alone in the

woods, and now scientists
love him

Activity 2: Write your own documentary

Instructions:
Investigate one of the following topics thoroughly and compile a documentary of
between 200-300 words there on.

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 ENGLISH HOME LANGUAGE WEEKS 3 & 4:
GRADE 9 TERM 2
WRITING AND PRESENTING

Topics:
The life and career of your favourite:
• Sportsman
• Musician
• Actor or actress

Your documentary should:

• Be written using formal language
• Include relevant details about the person such as names, places, times, positions and
any other necessary details
• Be based on research from reliable sources. Wikipedia is not a reliable source
• Be planned using a mind-map and contain an edited draft
• Include a word count at the end of your documentary
• Be written in your own words. Plagiarism is a serious offence

Rubric:
Use the following rubric to assess your work.

1 2 3 4
NEEDS WORK ADEQUATE GOOD EXCELLENT
Format Untidy. Difficult Somewhat tidy. Tidy. Easy to read Very neat work.
to read and Difficult to read and understand Easy to read
understand. No and understand throughout but and understand
effort was put at times. Some some scratching throughout. No
into the final effort was put out remains. scratching out
presentation into the final Effort was put visible. Much
product into the final effort was into
product the final product
Language Inappropriate Made use of Generally Appropriate
sentences and somewhat made use of use of varied
vocabulary appropriate appropriate sentences and
sentences and use of varied vocabulary
vocabulary sentences throughout
and correct
vocabulary
Spelling and Many errors Some errors Few errors No errors
sentence evident evident evident evident
construction

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 ENGLISH HOME LANGUAGE WEEKS 3 & 4:
GRADE 9 TERM 2
WRITING AND PRESENTING

Content Inappropriate. Somewhat Somewhat Completely

Does not adhere appropriate. appropriate. appropriate.
to topic. Sometimes veers Mostly stays on Remains on
off topic topic topic throughout
Research Fewer than two At least two At least two At least three
reliable sources. reliable sources. reliable sources. reliable sources.
Information No evidence No evidence No evidence
has been of plagiarism. of plagiarism. of plagiarism.
plagiarised/ Information Information has Information has
learner used selection is been selected been selected
Wikipedia. faulty with some with some
Information success success
selection is
faulty
TOTAL 20

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