Year 8 - English
Evaluating how two non-fiction writers express their opinions
Taking a stand
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils learn about the different ways that writers have expressed their points of view across history. They look at some key techniques that writers use, such as motif and triad, before reading a speech, article, poem and song. They finally write and deliver their own presentation.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to evaluate how two writers take a stand and express strong opinions in their writing.
Key Notes
- When writers take a stand, they often include elements such as personal anecdote, experts and politics.
- Using Aristotle's triad of logos, ethos and pathos can help strengthen a point of view.
- When we evaluate texts, we need to measure them against specific criteria.
- Evaluation means looking at the validity of the content and the quality of the writing.
Vocabulary To Learn
- empathy: the ability to share someone else's feelings as if they are your own
- authority: the power to influence others through specialised knowledge or status
- contentious: likely to cause disagreement or argument
- strategy: a plan of action designed to achieve a long-term or overall aim
- tactics: action carefully planned to achieve a specific end
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Students often think that to evaluate something is to say whether or not you like it.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
When writers take a stand, they often include elements such as personal anecdote, experts and politics. Using Aristotle's triad of logos, ethos and pathos can help strengthen a point of view.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'empathy'
the ability to share someone else's feelings as if they are your own.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Students often think that to evaluate something is to say whether or not you like it. Correction: Keep reminding them of the criteria. Does a text measure up to a standard being set?
More Lessons In This Unit
- 'The Chimney Sweeper': a protest against child labour Study Guide
- 'Where Have All the Flowers Gone?': a song of conviction Study Guide
- Analysing an opinion article about protecting the greenbelt Study Guide
- Aristotle's triad Study Guide
- Creating content for a formal presentation Study Guide
- Delivering a formal presentation Study Guide
- Expressing convictions Study Guide
- Hillary Clinton's passionate speech about women's rights Study Guide
- Planning a fairy tale about a social issue Study Guide
- Planning content for a presentation Study Guide
- Preparing to deliver a presentation Study Guide
- The use of a motif in Hillary Clinton's speech Study Guide
- Using a motif in your writing Study Guide
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