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      Expressing convictions

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can explain how writers express their convictions with passion.

      Key learning points

      1. Throughout history, writers have used their skills to take a stand to address social issues.
      2. Writers also use their skills to express their views with conviction and passion.
      3. Sometimes a writer taking a stand can have real world benefits by stimulating awareness of an issue.
      4. Different text types have different strengths when it comes to expressing convictions.
      5. Writers make specific language choices to express their views strongly and effectively.

      Keywords

      • Assert - state a fact or a belief confidently or forcefully

      • Ballad - a poem or song that tells a story

      • Lament - a passionate expression of grief or sorrow

      • Vocal - refers to the voice, used to describe someone who speaks forcefully

      • Savage - brutal and animal like

      Common misconception

      Students think of speeches as being a form of protest, but poems or songs.

      Emphasise the wide range of text types used in the lesson.

      Teacher tip

      You could explore the idea of speaking out in this lesson. What issues are current in your school community or surroundings?

      Equipment

      You may wish to include some extracts or clips from the texts explored in this lesson.

      Content guidance

      Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

      Supervision

      Adult supervision recommended

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Which of the following is the best definition of the word "opinion"?

      a statement based on facts and evidence
      Correct answer: a personal belief or judgement that may be based on facts
      a fact that everyone accepts as true
      a conclusion drawn from scientific experimentation

      Q2.
      Match the text type with the definition.

      Correct Answer:novel,long prose narrative with a plot and characters

      long prose narrative with a plot and characters

      Correct Answer:TV drama,emotionally driven acting for television

      emotionally driven acting for television

      Correct Answer:poem,characterised by stanzas, rhythm and the use of figurative language

      characterised by stanzas, rhythm and the use of figurative language

      Correct Answer:song,a musical composition consisting of melody and lyrics

      a musical composition consisting of melody and lyrics

      Q3.
      Which of the following words best fits the following sentence: She couldn't go to the park she had to finish her homework.

      therefore
      Correct answer: because
      although
      besides

      Q4.
      If we write with conviction, we write with...?

      perception
      Correct answer: passion
      confusion
      sadness

      Q5.
      What word beginning with a T refers to the name given to a piece of writing?

      Correct Answer: title, The title, a title

      Q6.
      What word beginning with S means a word with a similar meaning?

      Correct Answer: synonym, synonyms

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Starting with the first, put the following texts in to order of publication date.

      1 - 'The Song of The Shirt'
      2 - 'The Jungle'
      3 - 'Cathy Come Home'
      4 - 'Blinded by your Grace'

      Q2.
      Match the words on the left with their synonyms on the right.

      Correct Answer:assert,proclaim

      proclaim

      Correct Answer:lament,grieve

      grieve

      Correct Answer:vocal,outspoken

      outspoken

      Correct Answer:savage,ferocious

      ferocious

      Q3.
      What word beginning with B is a type of narrative poem or story?

      Correct Answer: ballad

      Q4.
      What did Thomas Hood, writer of 'The Song of the Shirt', do for a living?

      Correct answer: He was clergyman.
      He ws a lawyer.
      He was a doctor.
      He wasa journalist.

      Q5.
      What changes were brought in after the publication of 'The Jungle' by Upton Sinclair?

      There was legislation against meat consumption.
      Upton Sinclair was ordered to stay away from investigative journalism.
      Correct answer: New legislation was brought in to make the meatpacking industry safer.
      Chicago was forced to close down its meatpacking industry.

      Q6.
      Which two of the following can we look at to analyse a writer's language?

      Correct answer: what the words suggest
      Correct answer: how the words sound
      how the words are spelled
      how the words are pronounced

      To help you plan your 8 English lesson on: Expressing convictions, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...