AQA A - (ELLA3) Comparative analysis and text adaptation

Text adaptation - persuasive speech

How it works

This activity, based on ‘The Post-feminist Woman’ from Cupcakes and Kalashnikovs, is
designed to help prepare students for the sort of text adaptation that they might be
asked to do for Section B of the Unit 3 exam for AQA English Language and Literature
(Spec A).

While students will not be given a choice of tasks for Cupcakes in the ELLA3 exam,
having one class complete both of these tasks will show them how it is possible to adapt
the same material for very different purposes.

The activity will work best if you split the class into two, with half being assigned Task A
and the other half assigned Task B.

Try this

It makes sense to ask students to read the whole of Jong’s article before attempting this
task. They may find some of her arguments and vocabulary quite challenging so you
could set some comprehension type questions and encourage students to look up any
unfamiliar words. This would make a good homework activity.
Or this

This task provides a good opportunity for students to revise and use persuasive
techniques. There are many resources on Teachit that you could use or adapt to help
with this:

http://www.teachit.co.uk/attachments/4158.pdf

http://www.teachit.co.uk/attachments/3711.pdf

http://www.teachit.co.uk/attachments/persuasion2.pdf

You could then follow this task up by looking at an ELLA3, Section A question which
includes a persuasive speech. The specimen paper available on the AQA website
contains a speech on binge drinking by Tony Blair which might be useful.

Or this

The Moral Maze broadcast on Radio 4 or an episode of Question Time on BBC1 could
provide useful style models for broadcast debates.
Or this

When each group of students has written their speech they should work together to
decide how it could be delivered for maximum impact. You might wish to nominate a
speaker from each group.
Once the class has listened to all the speeches, you could allow students to continue the
debate either in role or expressing their personal views on the issue of working parents.
© www.teachit.co.uk 2011 16968 Page 1 of 2
 AQA A - (ELLA3) Comparative analysis and text adaptation

Text adaptation - persuasive speech

Re-read the extract from ‘The Post-feminist Woman’ by Erica Jong which begins ‘Yet
when they work (as they must) …’ on page 189 to ‘What is at stake is nothing more and
nothing less than the future of our kids’ on page 191. Using this extract as your source
material you will be asked to do ONE of the following tasks:

a) You have been asked to take part in a debate on the advantages and disadvantages
of mothers of young children working outside the home to be broadcast on the
radio. Write a speech in which you argue that the workplace should become more
family friendly to accommodate the needs of working mothers (and fathers).

You should adapt the source material, using your own words as far as possible.
Your speech should be approximately 300-400 words in length.

In your adaptation you should:

 use language appropriately to address purpose and audience

 write accurately and coherently, applying relevant ideas and concepts.

b) You have been asked to take part in a debate on the advantages and disadvantages
of mothers of young children working outside the home to be broadcast on the
radio. Write a speech in which you persuade the audience of the disadvantages of
mothers of young children returning to the workplace.

You should adapt the source material, using your own words as far as possible.
Your speech should be approximately 300-400 words in length.

In your adaptation you should:

 use language appropriately to address purpose and audience

 write accurately and coherently, applying relevant ideas and concepts.

© www.teachit.co.uk 2011 16968 Page 2 of 2