Other Writing Theories
English Language: AQA A Level, topic 2.4.5
Other Writing Theories
These theories don’t fit neatly into any category but are still very important to bring into your essay.
Rothery
- Rothery divided types of children’s writing into 4 categories:
- Observations and comments – the writer will make observations and evaluative comments.
- Recounts – chronological recounts of events which are subjective. These follows a set pattern of ‘orientation-event-reorientation’.
Rothery cont.
- Reports – factual descriptions in an objective manner of events or things – this isn’t usually chronological.
- Narratives – stories. These must follow a set order – the ending cannot come before the middle of the story. Children often find this difficult.
Brice-Heath
- Brice-Heath’s very influential research examines how social class and culture affects a child’s ability to make literacy progress.
- She studied three towns in order to investigate this:
Maintown (white middle class)
- Plentiful exposure to literacy activities like reading at bedtime.
- Interrogative mood is used to question SPaG understanding.
- Children are encouraged to look beyond the story into wider significance.
- For example, in ‘Little Red Riding Hood’, the parent may encourage the child to be careful who they trust.
Roadville (white working class)
- Parents were aware of their socio-economic status and wanted their children to perform as well as the Maintown students.
- As with Maintown, children were surrounded by books, however, the interrogative mood was often missing or lacking.
- They start education well, but this deteriorates as time goes on.
Trackton (black working class)
- The oral style of storytelling is cherished.
- Creativity is key and much more important than accuracy.
- The oral storytelling leads to a lack of books and therefore comprehension of orthography and syntax.
- As a result, students could create a very good story, but are severely behind in writing accurately.
Test yourself on Other Writing Theories
In which group of Brice-Heath's study was the oral style of storytelling most cherished?