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Year 8 - English

Preparing a speech about supporting Victorian working class children

Victorian childhood: non-fiction reading and writing

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 create a detailed plan for your argument about support for Victorian working class children.

Key Notes

  • Topic sentences should outline the specific argument that will be covered in a section of our speech.
  • When planning a speech, supporting details should include rhetorical devices, structural devices and vocabulary.
  • A hook grabs the listeners attention, whilst focusing on the subject of the speech.
  • Your opening should alude to the three topic sentences you are going to write.
  • Mirroring your closing to your opening creates a sense of cohesion in your writing.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • Hook: a structural technique used to grab (or hook) your audience's interest.
  • Mirroring: a technique where a paragraph, usually an ending or closing, is designed to remind the reader of an earlier section of text.
  • Cohesion: something that all works well together, having a clear meaning throughout.
  • Elicit: to draw out a certain reaction or emotion from your audience.
  • Call to action: a request to get your audience to act or behave in a certain way.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Topic sentences are only used in essay writing.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.

Topic sentences should outline the specific argument that will be covered in a section of our speech. When planning a speech, supporting details should include rhetorical devices, structural devices and vocabulary.

2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'Hook'

a structural technique used to grab (or hook) your audience's interest.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: Topic sentences are only used in essay writing. Correction: Remind pupils that topic sentences are signposts for readers, indicating to them the direction our writing will be travelling in.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 8 English guide library.