Exploring youth justice in the Victorian era
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can present a convincing argument about youth justice.
Key learning points
- Victorians were tough on crime to deter people from offending.
- Victorians valued discipline and responsibility.
- It was a middle class myth designed to uphold the class system, that most criminals were working class.
- Rhetorical questions, emotive language and direct address are all types of persuasive language.
- Connectives and repetition are all useful for structuring a persuasive response.
Keywords
Indictment - an indictment means a formal charge or accusation.
Vengeance - vengeance is a punishment inflicted for a wrong that has been committed.
Harbour - to harbour means to shelter or hide a criminal.
Discharge - if you discharge someone, you officially tell them they must leave a place or situation.
Plunder - to plunder means to steal goods from a place or person.
Common misconception
The working class are the social class most likely to commit crime.
What types of crime are more likely to be committed by the wealthy? Why might they be less likely to be punished?
Teacher tip
If you do not have time for individuals to perform their persuasive pleas for Thomas Mitchel individually, place pupils in pairs to perform and give feedback to each other.
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of 'The dreadful life and confession of Thomas Mitchel' which is available in the additional materials.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.When you are reading a difficult text, you should ask yourself to check you are understanding what you are reading.
Q2.Select two words from the list below which are connectives.
Q3.What is a rhetorical question?
Q4.Do you think Victorians were stricter on crime than law makers today?
Q5.Which of the following statements about the death penalty is true for the UK today?
Q6.Which of the following statements is true about the punishments under-18s can receive in the UK today?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following is not direct address?
Q2.Who did the middle class believe committed the most crime?
Q3.Was the death penalty abolished during the Victorian era?
Q4.What is the age of criminal responsibility in the UK?
Q5.Why were the Victorians so tough on crime? Select the two best responses.
Q6.Which of the following words means a formal charge or accusation?
To help you plan your 8 English lesson on: Exploring youth justice in the Victorian era, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 English lesson on: Exploring youth justice in the Victorian era, 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 Victorian childhood: non-fiction reading and writing unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.