Language Discourses A Level Unit AQA Paper 2 Question 3

A 10 lesson unit comprising a 71 slide PowerPoint, 10 different worksheets (including texts for analysis) exploring the topic of Language Discourses and a summary terminology and theory sheet.The following are covered and taught as part of the unit: self-representation of the writer; positioning of the audience; evaluating and challenging discourses; applying different linguistic levels; context and genre; comparison.

Each lesson includes a starting discussion prompt which acts as a learning objective, detailed notes on the theories and concepts listed below, a worksheet (with the exception of lesson nine) and activities, and a homework task. The following theories and concepts are covered:

• Definition of language discourses
• Descriptivism and prescriptivism
• Sticklerism – Robert Lane Greene (2011)
• Eats, Shoots & Leaves – Lynne Truss (2003)
• Declinism – Robert Lane Greene (2011)
• Crumbling Castle, Infectious Disease and Damp Spoon – Jean Aitchison (1996)
• Standard and Non-Standard English
• Complaint Tradition – James and Lesley Milroy (1987)
• Complaint Tradition – John McWhorter (2013)
• The Language Wars – Henry Hitchings (2011)
• Verbal Hygiene – Deborah Cameron (1995)
• David Crystal – A Sea of Language Change

The final lesson is a consolidation activity complete with guided revision cards. Alternatively, you could use an app such as Quizlet so that the students could produce digital revision resources.

Check out my other English Language resources:
Language and Gender
Language and Region
Language and Power and Occupation
Language and Global and World Englishes
Language Change
Language and Technology
Language and Ethnicity
Language and Social Groups
Analysing Spoken Language
Child Language Acquisition - Speech
Child Language Acquisition - Reading and Writing
Language Discourses - Question 4 Opinion Article