AQA GCSE English Language Paper 2 [& pre-reading activities)

This is designed for learners at Key Stage 3 or early-on in Key Stage 4 to build familiarity with decoding and understanding 19th century texts. The two texts are c.300 words each so that they’re not intimidating for first-time readers.

Questions 02, 03, 04 and 05 are included alongside both 19th century and 21st style texts. I say “in the style of” because I’ve written both texts myself: the 21st century one is about the convenience of Uber and the 19th century one is about a gentleman having his taxi pinched by a drunken rogue after a night at the theatre.

There are pre-reading activities as well as activities post-reading:

1. a “choose your own best guess” at single word meaning from the 19th century text - learners have to select the word they think best fits the tougher vocab, great for pre-reading and building confidence;
2. a glossary for the 19th century text (with answers!);
3. a blank grid for the 21st century text: language device, “quotation” and effect on the reader;
4. a blank writing planning grid with short prompts;
5. a blank compare/contrast table to fill in across 19th and 21st century texts;

Please feel free to adapt, change or amend these resources in any way you feel. It’s very much a “have a go” type of lesson or something that could be used as cover at short notice.

Thanks for looking!