Introduction
You are a young journalist in 1840s London. The city is changing fast - steam trains rattle overhead, chimneys smoke day and night, thousands leave farms for factories. Your editor wants a special report: did the Industrial Revolution bring progress or suffering? You must investigate three cities and decide your position.
Task
Write a 200-250 word article for The Times newspaper answering this question: "Was the Industrial Revolution worth its human cost?" Your article must include:
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eyewitness quotes from at least two sources
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specific facts about working conditions and transport
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your clear opinion supported by evidence
Process
Step 1: Manchester - The Factory City
Visit this BBC Bitesize page about textile mills: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zpvb82p/articles/zwcdxfr
Watch the video about factory life. Find answers to:
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How many hours did children work per day?
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What three dangers faced factory workers?
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Copy one quote from a factory inspector's report
Embed this video using Insert Media Embed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Q9z6g2zX8k
Step 2: Liverpool - Steam and Speed
Explore the first railway line connecting Liverpool to Manchester (opened 1830). Use this Science Museum resource: https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/objects-and-stories/railway-history
Create a timeline with three dates:
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When did the railway open?
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What speed could trains reach?
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How did this change trade between cities?
Embed this image of Stephenson's Rocket: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Stephenson%27s_Rocket.jpg/800px-Stephenson%27s_Rocket.jpg
Step 3: London - Voices of Reform
Read these two opposing views from 1833:
Factory owner: "Machines create wealth and jobs. Without factories, families would starve in the countryside."
Reformer Lord Ashley: "Children of nine years work twelve hours in darkness and dust. This is not progress but cruelty."
Choose one side. Write 3 sentences defending this position using evidence from Steps 1-2.
Step 4: Write Your Article
Use this structure:
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Headline grabbing attention
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Opening paragraph with your main argument
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Two body paragraphs with evidence and quotes
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Conclusion answering the question directly
Evaluation
Evidence from sources: Excellent (4) - 3+ specific facts with sources Good (3) - 2 facts with sources Developing (2) - 1 fact mentioned Beginning (1) - No facts or incorrect
Use of quotes: Excellent (4) - 2 integrated quotes Good (3) - 1 quote Developing (2) - Quote mentioned but not integrated Beginning (1) - No quotes
Argument clarity: Excellent (4) - Clear position with balanced view Good (3) - Clear position one-sided Developing (2) - Position unclear Beginning (1) - No position stated
Language accuracy: Excellent (4) - B2 level few errors Good (3) - Some errors meaning clear Developing (2) - Frequent errors affect meaning Beginning (1) - Errors prevent understanding
Word count: Excellent (4) - 200-250 words Good (3) - 180-199 or 251-270 Developing (2) - 150-179 Beginning (1) - Under 150
Conclusion
You have traveled from Manchester's cotton mills to Liverpool's railway station. You have heard factory owners and child workers. The Industrial Revolution made Britain the "workshop of the world" but destroyed traditional ways of life. Your article takes a side in a debate that continues today - does economic growth justify human suffering? Consider: what would you fight to change if you lived in 1840?