New
New
Year 8

Evaluating how two non-fiction writers express their opinions

I can evaluate how two writers take a stand and express strong opinions in their writing.

New
New
Year 8

Evaluating how two non-fiction writers express their opinions

I can evaluate how two writers take a stand and express strong opinions in their writing.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. When writers take a stand, they often include elements such as personal anecdote, experts and politics.
  2. Using Aristotle’s triad of logos, ethos and pathos can help strengthen a point of view.
  3. When we evaluate texts, we need to measure them against specific criteria.
  4. Evaluation means looking at the validity of the content and the quality of the writing.

Common misconception

Students often think that to evaluate something is to say whether or not you like it.

Keep reminding them of the criteria. Does a text measure up to a standard being set?

Keywords

  • 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

Set the tone for respectful discussion at the beginning. Remind them that we criticise ideas not people.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You need access to two articles: ‘My Suffragette grandmothers are now seen as heroes. Today’s climate protesters will be too’ from ‘The Guardian’ and ‘Just Stop Oil protesters from ‘The Speaker’.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following are synonyms for "taking a stand"?
Correct answer: asserting
Correct answer: protesting
denying
spoiling
Q2.
What word begining with C means to examine similarities and differences?
Correct Answer: compare , comparison, comparing
Q3.
Match the elements on the left with the correct examples on the right.
Correct Answer:personal experience,an anecdote from your childhood or a story about your family.

an anecdote from your childhood or a story about your family.

Correct Answer:expert opinions,an interview with an engineer or town planner

an interview with an engineer or town planner

Correct Answer:formal politics,a debate in the House of Commons

a debate in the House of Commons

Q4.
Who was Aristotle?
Correct answer: a Roman philosopher
a Greek philosopher
an English philosopher
Q5.
What word beginning with "M" refers to an image or idea that is repeated across a text?
Correct answer: motif
metaphor
extended metaphor
murmur
Q6.
What does it mean to say something is symbolic?
that it is different to something else
that it is the same as something else
Correct answer: that it represents a deeper thought or feeling
that it is controversial and causes lots of arguments

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the words on the left with their synonyms on the right.
Correct Answer:empathy,understanding

understanding

Correct Answer:authority,expertise

expertise

Correct Answer:contentious,controversial

controversial

Correct Answer:strategy,plan

plan

Correct Answer:tactics,methods

methods

Q2.
If something is significant it is...
irritating
Correct answer: important
confusing
controversial
Q3.
Aristotle's rhetorical triad consists of logos, pathos and...
Correct Answer: ethos
Q4.
Which of the following is the best definition of "to evaluate"?
to criticise or find fault with something
Correct answer: to examine and asses the quality or value of something
to persuade or convince someone of a particular view
to summarise or provide a brief overview of a text
Q5.
Which of the following uses formal politics to make a point?
Many people feel strongly about this issue becuase it affects thier daily lives.
Correct answer: According to a recent law passed, this policy is the most effective.
Statistics show that countries with stricter rules have solved the problem.
The approach has been used for generations and has usually been successful.
Q6.
Which of the following does not use ethos effectively?
A famous chef said the product is the best kitchen appliance on the market.
An Olympic athlete promotes a specific brand of trainers.
A dermatologist recommended a skincare product.
Correct answer: An economist declared the toothpaste the best for whitening teeth.