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.
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.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning 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.
- 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.
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
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?
To help you plan your year 8 english lesson on: Evaluating how two non-fiction writers express their opinions, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 8 english lesson on: Evaluating how two non-fiction writers express their opinions, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 english lessons from the Taking a stand unit, dive into the full secondary english curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
an anecdote from your childhood or a story about your family.
an interview with an engineer or town planner
a debate in the House of Commons
Exit quiz
6 Questions
understanding
expertise
controversial
plan
methods