Year 8 - English
Expressing convictions
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 explain how writers express their convictions with passion.
Key Notes
- Throughout history, writers have used their skills to take a stand to address social issues.
- Writers also use their skills to express their views with conviction and passion.
- Sometimes a writer taking a stand can have real world benefits by stimulating awareness of an issue.
- Different text types have different strengths when it comes to expressing convictions.
- Writers make specific language choices to express their views strongly and effectively.
Vocabulary To Learn
- assert: state a fact or a belief confidently or forcefully
- ballad: a poem or song that tells a story
- lament: a passionate expression of grief or sorrow
- vocal: refers to the voice, used to describe someone who speaks forcefully
- savage: brutal and animal like
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Students think of speeches as being a form of protest, but poems or songs.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
Throughout history, writers have used their skills to take a stand to address social issues. Writers also use their skills to express their views with conviction and passion.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'assert'
state a fact or a belief confidently or forcefully.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Students think of speeches as being a form of protest, but poems or songs. Correction: Emphasise the wide range of text types used in the lesson.
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
- Evaluating how two non-fiction writers express their opinions 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
Browse all guides in the Year 8 English guide library.