Class: Senior Secondary School 1 (SS1, SS 1, SSS1, SSS 1)
Term: 1st Term
Week: 4
Age: 15 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Literature-in-English
Curriculum Theme: Literature-in-English
Previous Lesson: Terms Used in Drama.
Topic: Genres of Literature II (Prose)
Subject Matter: Definition of prose, characteristics of prose, types of prose, first person narrative technique, third person narrative technique

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

Cognitive Domain:

Define prose in literature.
List the characteristics of prose.
Identify and classify types of prose.
Explain first person and third person narrative techniques.

Affective Domain:

Show interest in reading prose passages and discussing their features.
Appreciate the role of narrative voice in understanding a story.
Demonstrate a positive attitude to class activities and chart work.

Psychomotor Domain:

Draw a simple chart showing narrative persons and their features.
Underline clues in a prose passage that show the narrative voice.

Work cooperatively in pairs/groups to identify prose types and narrative voice.
Participate in class discussion by giving examples from familiar stories.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
State Unified Scheme of Work
Literature-in-English textbook for SSS 1 (Genres of Literature: Prose)
Prose passage handouts (short stories/extracts)
Encyclopaedia Britannica: Prose
Encyclopaedia Britannica: Short Story
BBC Bitesize: Narrative Voice and Point of View

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Prose passage handouts
Narrative chart (prepared sample)
Classroom board and markers
Cardboard chart paper and ruler

Rationale for the Lesson

Prose is the most common form of literature pupils meet in novels and short stories. Understanding prose types and narrative voice helps pupils interpret stories correctly and answer examination questions with clarity.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have read simple stories and can identify basic story elements such as characters, setting, and plot.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Genres of Literature II (Prose)

Definition of Prose

Prose is a form of writing that uses ordinary sentences and paragraphs rather than lines and stanzas. It is the common form used in novels, short stories, biographies, and essays.

Characteristics of Prose

The following are characteristics of prose:

Written in sentences and paragraphs.
Uses everyday language or formal language depending on purpose.
Has a storyline or main idea, especially in fiction.
Has characters and setting in narrative prose.
Has a plot (beginning, middle, and end) in stories.
Includes narrative voice (the speaker or narrator of the story).

Types of Prose

The following are types of prose:

Fiction – imaginative writing that is not real, such as novels and short stories.
Non-fiction – factual writing based on real events and information, such as biography, autobiography, and essays.

Examples of Fiction Prose

The following are examples of fiction prose:

Novel
Short story
Novella

Examples of Non-fiction Prose

The following are examples of non-fiction prose:

Biography
Autobiography
Essay
Memoir

First Person Narrative Technique

First person narration is when the story is told by a character who uses “I” or “we”. The narrator is part of the story and tells events from personal experience.

The following are features of first person narration:

Uses pronouns like “I”, “me”, “my”, “we”, “our”.
Narrator is a character in the story.
Shows personal feelings, opinions, and thoughts clearly.
Limited to what the narrator knows, sees, or hears.

Third Person Narrative Technique

Third person narration is when the story is told by a narrator outside the story using “he”, “she”, or “they”. The narrator is not a character in the story.

The following are features of third person narration:

Uses pronouns like “he”, “she”, “him”, “her”, “they”, “their”.
Narrator is outside the story.
Can describe actions and events from different characters.
May know the thoughts of one character or many characters, depending on the story.

Chart of Narrative Persons (Narrative Voice)

The following is a simple chart of narrative persons:

First Person – uses “I/we”; narrator is a character in the story.
Third Person – uses “he/she/they”; narrator is outside the story.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Lecture, Demonstration, Question and Answer, Visual Aids

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher presents a short prose extract and asks pupils to identify whether it is a story and what kind of writing it is, then introduces the topic and lesson focus.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils read/listen to the extract and respond by stating what they notice about the writing.
Learning Point: Prose is a common form of writing used for stories and factual writing.

Step 2: Explanation of Prose

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the meaning of prose and guides pupils to list its key characteristics on the board.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, take notes, and mention characteristics as the teacher guides the discussion.
Learning Point: Prose is written in sentences and paragraphs with identifiable features.

Step 3: Types of Prose

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains fiction and non-fiction and provides examples, using the prose handouts to point out clues.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils classify examples as fiction or non-fiction and give additional examples from familiar books or stories.
Learning Point: Prose is grouped into fiction and non-fiction with clear examples.

Step 4: Narrative Techniques (First and Third Person)

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains first person and third person narration and demonstrates how pronouns show the narrative voice using short sentences from the handouts.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify pronouns in sample lines and state whether the narration is first or third person.
Learning Point: Narrative voice can be identified by the pronouns used in a passage.

Step 5: Guided Chart Work

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Guided Practice
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils to create a simple chart comparing first person and third person narration and checks correctness.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils draw the chart and fill in key features and pronouns under each narrative person.
Learning Point: A chart helps pupils compare and remember narrative techniques.

Step 6: Class Practice

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Practice/Question and Answer
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher gives short sentences and asks pupils to rewrite one sentence from first person to third person or from third person to first person.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond orally and write one example in their notebooks.
Learning Point: Pupils can apply narrative techniques by changing narrative voice correctly.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

Define prose.
List four characteristics of prose.
State two types of prose and give one example each.
Differentiate between first person and third person narration.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 0 minutes
Teaching Skill: Closure
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the lesson and gives a short take-home task: pupils read a short prose passage and underline pronouns that show whether it is first person or third person narration.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils submit their charts for checking and note the assignment.
Learning Point: Prose types and narrative voice are identified and applied to passages.

Lesson Keywords

Prose – writing in sentences and paragraphs, not in lines and stanzas.
Fiction – imaginative prose that is not factual.
Non-fiction – factual prose based on real events and information.
First person narration – narration using “I/we” by a narrator who is part of the story.
Third person narration – narration using “he/she/they” by a narrator outside the story.

Differentiation

Fast learners identify narrative voice in two different passages and justify their answers with pronouns; average learners identify narrative voice in one passage and complete the chart; learners who need support use the prepared narrative chart to match pronouns to first or third person and copy correct examples.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Use short, clear passages so pupils can quickly spot pronouns and narrative voice. Emphasize accurate definitions and listing of points to match examination requirements, and check charts for neatness and correct classification.