Debating Jane Austen — Scaffolded Worksheet
For a 17-year-old | ACARA v9-aligned English: persuasive argument, textual analysis & oral presentation
- Analyse how Jane Austen uses language, irony and social context to shape arguments in her novels.
- Construct and deliver a structured persuasive debate (oral and written) using textual evidence and rhetorical strategies.
- Plan and respond to counter-arguments with clear rebuttals and evidence.
This activity aligns with ACARA v9 English outcomes for senior secondary students: analysing persuasive language and techniques, composing sustained arguments, and planning, rehearsing and presenting spoken texts. (Ask your teacher if you need exact code references.)
- Select (or be assigned) a motion about Jane Austen (examples below).
- Use the evidence bank and research prompts to gather quotes and context.
- Plan your case using the PEEL/TEEL scaffold and planning grid.
- Prepare 3 main points, brief rebuttals to anticipated arguments, and a concluding clincher.
- Time your speech and practise delivery — use the rubric to self-assess.
- "Jane Austen is primarily a romantic novelist — not a social critic."
- "Pride and Prejudice remains relevant to 21st-century readers."
- "Austen’s novels reinforce the social order more than they subvert it."
- "Emma is the most morally instructive of Austen’s major novels."
Key themes to use as proposition or opposition material: class and social mobility, marriage economics, gender roles, irony and free indirect discourse, realism vs romance, satire of manners. Consider historical context (Regency England), Austen’s narrative voice and reader-positioning.
Primary texts & quick evidence bank
- Pride and Prejudice — quote: 'It is a truth universally acknowledged...'
- Sense and Sensibility — quotes about sense, sensibility and marriage.
- Emma — quotes illustrating control, matchmaking and irony.
- Persuasion — quotes on social second chances and constancy.
Note: add chapter/volume/page references from your edition when you include quotes in your argument.
P — Point: State your main claim clearly.
E — Evidence: Quote + citation from Austen.
E — Explanation/Elaboration: Explain how the quote supports your point and refer to context/literary technique (irony, free indirect discourse, tone).
L — Link: Link back to the motion and to the next point.
E — Evidence: Quote + citation from Austen.
E — Explanation/Elaboration: Explain how the quote supports your point and refer to context/literary technique (irony, free indirect discourse, tone).
L — Link: Link back to the motion and to the next point.
Although this may seem persuasive, the text suggests..., An alternative reading is..., This argument overlooks..., While the opponent emphasises X, Austen’s language actually highlights Y...
- Irony (verbal, situational)
- Satire and social parody
- Free indirect discourse (narrative perspective)
- Juxtaposition and contrast
- Concise epigrammatic lines as memorable quotes
| Main point |
Evidence / quote + citation |
Anticipated counter + brief rebuttal |
Repeat the grid for Points 2 and 3 on the back or another sheet. Aim: 3 strong points, each with evidence and a prepared rebuttal.
- First Affirmative / First Negative (opening: 3 mins) — outline case and first point.
- Second Affirmative / Second Negative (build case, present 2nd point: 3 mins).
- Third Affirmative / Third Negative (final main arguments & rebuttals: 3 mins).
- Reply speeches (optional) 2 mins per side.
- Second Affirmative / Second Negative (build case, present 2nd point: 3 mins).
- Third Affirmative / Third Negative (final main arguments & rebuttals: 3 mins).
- Reply speeches (optional) 2 mins per side.
Rate yourself 1–4 (1 = developing, 4 = excellent)
- Content & relevance: used strong, relevant points (1-4)
- Evidence & citation: used textual quotes and contextual knowledge (1-4)
- Argument structure: clear P–E–E–L / logical sequencing (1-4)
- Rebuttal: responded to opponent effectively with evidence (1-4)
- Delivery: clarity, pace, tone, eye contact (1-4)
- For weaker writers: provide 2 pre-selected quotes per motion and a partially completed PEEL paragraph to adapt.
- Extension: write a reflective paragraph comparing Austen’s strategies with a contemporary novelist or screen adaptation (e.g. film adaptation of Pride & Prejudice) and debate whether the adaptation strengthens or weakens Austen’s critique.
- Extension: write a reflective paragraph comparing Austen’s strategies with a contemporary novelist or screen adaptation (e.g. film adaptation of Pride & Prejudice) and debate whether the adaptation strengthens or weakens Austen’s critique.