Language Discourses A Level Unit AQA Paper 2 Question 3

A 10 lesson unit comprising of 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.