New
New
Year 9

Considering alternative perspectives of war in non-fiction texts

I can identify and summarise alternative perspectives in a text.

New
New
Year 9

Considering alternative perspectives of war in non-fiction texts

I can identify and summarise alternative perspectives in a text.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Many texts about war and conflict are presented from the perspective of male soldiers or men.
  2. Seacole and Nightingale offer an alternative perspective of conflict.
  3. Athough writing about similar events, Seacole and Nightingale have different experiences and use different forms.
  4. Both writers use first person accounts to reveal the shocking realities of war and life as a nurse on the front line.

Common misconception

Only soldiers on the front line had direct experiences of conflict.

Who does war impact? Besides being a soldier, what other roles do people have in war?

Keywords

  • Dominant - the most widely accepted or prevailing (idea or concept)

  • Alternative - something that is different from what is usual or commonly chosen, offering another option or possibility

  • Tenacious - to be determined and persistent, not giving up easily

  • Advocate - to support or argue in favor of something or someone

It may be useful to ask pupils to consider their experiences of other texts you have studied dealing with war - who was the writer? Whose perspective did you hear?
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need copies of the extracts from Mary Seacole's autobiography and Florence Nightingale's 'Letter to The Time' found in the additional materials.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

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.
What is the title of Mary Seacole's autobiography?
The Life of a Nurse
Adventures of a Nightingale
Correct answer: Wonderful Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands
The Journey of Mary Seacole
Q2.
An autobiography is ...
a fictional story written by an author about their life.
a biography of a person written by someone else.
Correct answer: a non-fictional account of a person's life written by that person.
a detailed account of historical events written by a historian.
Q3.
In her autobiography, Mary Seacole uses the pronoun "I" to narrate her story. This means it is written in a person perspective.
Correct answer: first
second
third
Q4.
In her autobiography, Mary Seacole states: "I attended to the wounds of many French and Sardinians." What tense is this sentence written in?
future
present
Correct answer: past
Q5.
In her autobiography, Mary Seacole describes how "It was a fearful scene." What word type is the word "fearful" in this sentence?
noun
verb
adverb
Correct answer: adjective
Q6.
What is the purpose of this text: a scientific paper discussing the effects of climate change on marine life?
Correct answer: inform
entertain
persuade
instruct

6 Questions

Q1.
In which country was Mary Seacole born?
Correct answer: Jamaica
England
Canada
Australia
Q2.
During which war did Mary Seacole and Florence Nightingale gain fame for their nursing efforts?
World War I
World War II
American Civil War
Correct answer: Crimean War
Q3.
What is the primary purpose of Florence Nightingale's 'Letter to The Times'?
To provide fictional stories about her life.
Correct answer: To advocate for the professionalisation of nursing.
To share her experiences as a nurse during the Crimean War.
To criticise the government's handling of the war.
Q4.
Which of these answers is true with regards to Mary Seacole's autobiography and Florence Nightingale's 'Letter to The Times'?
both are letters
both are autobiographies
Correct answer: both use a first person perspective
both specifically address medical professionals
Q5.
Which word beginning with 'a' can be described as: 'to support or argue in favour of something or someone'?
Correct Answer: advocate, advocating
Q6.
Which adjective could be used to describe Seacole and Nightingale and their approaches to nursing?
apathetic
Correct answer: tenacious
indiffferent
passive

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