Comparing texts about drug misuse: ‘Confessions’ (1821) and ‘A letter to’ (2014)
I can read two texts about the same topic - drug misuse - and begin to compare the perspectives of the writers who wrote them.
Comparing texts about drug misuse: ‘Confessions’ (1821) and ‘A letter to’ (2014)
I can read two texts about the same topic - drug misuse - and begin to compare the perspectives of the writers who wrote them.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Using predictive reading skills before you read a text can help you understand more complex texts.
- When reading a text for the first time, you won’t necessarily understand every word and idea.
- Making short annotations as you read can help you develop an understanding of a text.
- Summarising a text after reading it for the first time can help you feel secure in your understanding of its main ideas.
- Comparing writers’ perspectives involves exploring their point of view and feelings as expressed in the text.
Keywords
Opium - an addictive drug
Perspective - the way someone thinks or feels about a particular thing; their point of view
Open letter - a letter written to a particular person or group but which is published in a newspaper or journal so the public can read it
Defensive - anxious to avoid criticism
Passionate - showing strong or intense feelings
Common misconception
That perspectives are simply positive or negative.
Positive and negative can be useful words to initially consider a perspective, but then you must become more nuanced and use specific adjectives to identify feelings and perspectives.
To help you plan your year 10 english lesson on: Comparing texts about drug misuse: ‘Confessions’ (1821) and ‘A letter to’ (2014), download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 english lesson on: Comparing texts about drug misuse: ‘Confessions’ (1821) and ‘A letter to’ (2014), 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.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 4 english lessons from the Non-fiction: crime and punishment unit, dive into the full secondary english curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
You need access to a copy of an extract from Thomas De Quincey's 'Confessions of an English Opium-Eater' (1821)/'A letter to...My Son' (Guardian, 2014). These can be found in the additional materials.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
- Depiction or discussion of mental health issues
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
when something is considered heavenly and other worldly
to be over excessive in an action or a behaviour
fake
something that has elements of mystery and magic
making something less bad or serious