Starter activity. How did life get better

for many ordinary people?

How vile was life How vile was life in Victorian in Victorian

Britain?Britain?Did life get better for Did life get better for ordinary people?ordinary people?

Aims

To identify key evidence of change and continuity in Victorian Britain

To assess examples of students’ work

To identify 3 top tips on successful essay-writing

Your taskYour task Work individually. Produce a scales chart similar to the one Work individually. Produce a scales chart similar to the one

below, recording evidence that suggests life in Victorian below, recording evidence that suggests life in Victorian Britain was vile and evidence that suggests things Britain was vile and evidence that suggests things improved.improved.

Can you pick out any themes, e.g. some of the information Can you pick out any themes, e.g. some of the information is about transport, some of the information is about healthis about transport, some of the information is about health

Improvements Conditions were still very poor

Your taskYour task

You are going to have a go at writing You are going to have a go at writing your first history essay in Year 8!!!! your first history essay in Year 8!!!! Essay-writing can be scary, a little Essay-writing can be scary, a little bit boring and time-consuming, but bit boring and time-consuming, but follow these steps and you’ll find it follow these steps and you’ll find it actually is easy, will blow your mind actually is easy, will blow your mind away and will take you next to no away and will take you next to no time to complete! What are the time to complete! What are the ingredients of a perfect essay?ingredients of a perfect essay?

Perfect essayPerfect essay

IntroductionIntroduction – to define and provide – to define and provide contextcontext

Main bodyMain body – discusses the main question – discusses the main question in separate in separate topic paragraphstopic paragraphs

ConclusionConclusion – reaches a verdict on main – reaches a verdict on main questionquestion

In addition – lots of In addition – lots of detailed factsdetailed facts (not just (not just opinions), opinions), topic sentencestopic sentences which which introduce each paragraph and link them introduce each paragraph and link them back to the questionback to the question

Extension taskExtension task

Conduct some family history Conduct some family history research and find out what research and find out what conditions were like for your conditions were like for your ancestors.ancestors.

PlenaryPlenary

Can you give your partner 3 top tips Can you give your partner 3 top tips on essay-writing success?on essay-writing success?

In your opinion did conditions In your opinion did conditions improve or worsen for ordinary improve or worsen for ordinary people?people?

Did conditions get better for any Did conditions get better for any particular groups in society?particular groups in society?