Year 6 English 11.1.21

L.O. Use contrasting conjunctions.

Explain the purpose of a contrasting conjunction.

Identify positives and negatives linked by contrasting conjunctions in sentences.

Use contrasting conjunctions to show differing views

Today we are going to be writing a diary entry where Oliver is trying to decide where he would be better off living.

Today you are going to write a diary entry from Oliver where he is thinking about where he would be better off living. You are going to compare the workhouse and Fagin’s house within the diary using contrasting conjunctions.

Opposing views Workhouse

Fagin’s house

Gruel to eat

Bread rolls and coffee

Boring

Fun games

Sad children all around

Laughter and friends

Work given

Stealing encouraged

A form of safety Mr Bumble

Dangerous life Fagin and Sikes

Contrasting

(Compares Different Points)

     

although but even though on the other hand however whereas

 while

Mr Bumble is mean and aggressive. However, Fagin has never laid a finger on Oliver.

On the other hand.

On the other hand is usually used at the start of the second sentence sharing an opposing view and is followed by a comma.

It was boring at the workhouse and everyone was really sad and quiet. On the other hand, at least they were honest and you could be yourself around them.

Although, even though, but, whereas, while These contrasting conjunctions can be used at the start of the sentence or in the middle. If they come at the start, you will need to use a comma after the first clause.

Fagin was really nice to me when I first arrived while Mr Bumble has always been horrible to me.

While Mr Bumble has always been horrible to me, Mr Fagin was really nice to me when I first arrived.

The workhouse is an absolute dump whereas Mr Fagin’s house has real nice furniture and even curtains.

Whereas Mr Fagin’s house has real nice furniture and even curtains, the workhouse is an absolute dump.

Mr Bumble never told me to steal although he expected me to work for nothing.

Although Mr Bumble never told me to steal, he expected me to work for nothing.

Positive + Contrasting Conjunction + Negative .

Contrasting conjunction + positive, + negative Positive. Contrasting conjunction, negative.

• Challenge 1 – use although and whereas.

• Challenge 2 – Use although, whereas, while and vary the position of the conjunction in the sentence.

• Challenge 3 – Use all the conjunctions and vary the position in sentences. Don’t forget to use a new sentence with ‘on the other hand’ and ‘however’

Key vocabulary • Mr Bumble • Fagin • Sikes • Mrs Corney • stealing • abusive • cruel • unkind • derelict • uncomfortable • orphans • workhouse • London • beating • gruel • master • rebellious • honest • dishonest

Here is a model to support your writing.

Dear diary, I am back here at Fagin’s house and I am beginning to wonder where I would be better off. Would I be safer going back to the work house in London. I think I really need to think about this.

When I first got here, Fagin was really nice to me whereas Mr Bumble has hated me since I was born. Although Fagin was nice to me to start with, he has started being really verbally abusive ever since I stayed with Mr Brownlow.

Whenever I did anything wrong, Mr Bumble would starve me. However, Fagin hasn’t laid a finger on me.

The workhouse is such a depressing place to be while being at Fagin’s house has been fun on the most part. The other children are really funny and make me laugh until tears run down my cheeks. Everyone is so glum at the workhouse but you can rely on the children and they are honest. On the other hand, the children at Fagin’s house are thieves and wouldn’t know honesty if it bit them on the bottom.

I can literally still taste the foul gruel from the workhouse if I shut my eyes and think about it. However, Mr Fagin treats us to bread rolls and coffee here.

I guess the thing that bothers me most about being here is the thievery. Although we had to work hard and didn’t get paid, Mr Bumble never expected us to be criminals.