Year 8 - English
Education for poor Victorian children
Victorian childhood: non-fiction reading and writing
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Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils read a mixture of contemporary and nineteenth-century non-fiction texts that explore a common theme of childhood. They first read and compare the texts, before then writing and delivering a speech as part of a debate on Victorian working class children.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain how emotive language is used to discuss poverty in Victorian Britain.
Key Notes
- There was no compulsory schooling in Victorian Britain.
- Education was a luxury only the rich could afford.
- Ragged schools were designed to provide education to the poorest in society.
- When analysing a writer's language choices, topic sentences should focus on effect rather than subject terminology.
- Topic sentences which focus on effect give opportunity to make connections between quotations from across a text.
Vocabulary To Learn
- Correlation: if two things have a mutual relationship or connection, they are are said to have a correlation.
- Illiteracy: illiteracy means being unable, or struggling, to read and write.
- Destitute: destitute means extremely poor and unable to look after oneself.
- Plea: a plea is a request made in an urgent or emotional manner.
- Ragged schools: ragged schools were schools which provided education to children who were too poor to receive it elsewhere.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Identifying language devices is the most important skill when analysing author's language choices.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
There was no compulsory schooling in Victorian Britain. Education was a luxury only the rich could afford.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'Correlation'
if two things have a mutual relationship or connection, they are are said to have a correlation.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Identifying language devices is the most important skill when analysing author's language choices. Correction: When looking at the question, ask pupils whether 'Guthrie uses a simile' would be an appropriate response to the question. If not, why not?
More Lessons In This Unit
- Delivering speeches about supporting Victorian working class children Study Guide
- Developing active listening skills Study Guide
- Exploring the experience of child workers in the Victorian era Study Guide
- Exploring youth justice in the Victorian era Study Guide
- Preparing a speech about supporting Victorian working class children Study Guide
- Writing a persuasive speech about supporting Victorian children Study Guide
- Writing speeches about supporting Victorian working class children Study Guide
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