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War Horse Writing Workshop

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War Horse Writing Workshop

War horse illustration

📖 Part 1: Character Journal Entries (Chapters 1-10)

Success Criteria: Write in character voice, include specific details from the text, show understanding of character emotions and motivations

1. Choose ONE character from chapters 1-4 and write a journal entry from their perspective about meeting Joey for the first time:

Albert Narracott

Ted Narracott (Albert's father)

Captain Nicholls

2. From Joey's perspective (chapters 5-7), write a journal entry describing the horrors of war he witnesses. Include specific events from the text:
3. Write Topthorn's journal entry about his friendship with Joey (chapters 8-10). Focus on how their bond helps them survive:

✍️ Part 2: Analytical Paragraph Writing (Close Reading Chapters 5-10)

Success Criteria: Clear topic sentence, evidence from text with page references, analysis of language techniques, concluding statement linking to theme

4. Choose ONE of the following essay questions and write a detailed paragraph (150-200 words):

How does Morpurgo use Joey's perspective to show the brutality of World War 1? (Chapters 5-7)

Analyse how the theme of friendship is developed through Joey and Topthorn's relationship (Chapters 8-10)

Examine how Morpurgo portrays the German soldiers' treatment of the horses (Chapters 9-10)

Paragraph Planning:

Topic sentence: ________________________________________________________________________________________________

Evidence 1 (with page number): __________________________________________________________________________________

Analysis: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Evidence 2 (with page number): __________________________________________________________________________________

Analysis: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Concluding sentence: ___________________________________________________________________________________________

🔍 Part 3: War Horses & WWI Research Questions

Success Criteria: Use specific examples, demonstrate understanding of historical context, make connections between research and novel

5. Research the role of horses in World War 1. How many horses were used by the British Army, and what was their survival rate?
6. What were the main causes of horse deaths during WWI? List three and explain how each is shown in the novel:
7. Compare the treatment of horses by different armies in WWI. How does this compare to what we see in chapters 8-10 of the novel?
8. Extension Task: How does Morpurgo's portrayal of war horses reflect the historical reality? Write a short essay (200-250 words) comparing historical facts with the novel's depiction.

Differentiation Support:

Approaching: Focus on questions 1, 2, 5, 6 • Use chapter summaries for reference • Work with a partner

At Level: Complete all questions • Include specific textual evidence • Make clear historical connections

Beyond: Complete extension task • Research additional sources • Create presentation linking novel to historical context

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