Is it fair that people view King John as a bad king?

Introduction

• Who was King John? When did he reign?• See if you can open with an interesting fact• King John has been remembered as a bad king

because… Explain briefly

• However, some disagree with this view because…. Again be brief

• Overall, he should be remembered as… the last sentence should give your view

Main part: 1

• King John is remembered as a bad king because he is viewed as being cruel and unfair.

• Use the examples you collected to support this opening point

• Medieval monks thought John was a cruel king, for example….

• The Victorians also viewed John negatively…• The worst thing John did was probably… what do

you think it is?

Main part: 2

• King John is also remembered as a bad king because he made mistakes.

• Use the examples you collected to support this opening point

• Medieval monks also mention some mistakes…See the sources

• The Victorians also didn’t like…• However, we do need to be careful with fully

accepting the monks and Victorians views because…

• The biggest mistake that John made was… what do you think it is?

Main part: 3

• It is not fair to remember John as a complete failure, however, as he did have some successes…

• Use the examples you collected to support this opening point

• The Tudors liked John because…• However, the Tudor view of John…• Why can we not trust the Tudor view?

• Historians in the 1950s and 1960s said… what did they say?

• However, historians have criticized their view…• What did they say?

• John’s biggest success was… what do you think it is?

Main part: 4

• King John also had some bad luck.• Use the examples you collected to support this opening point

• Historians in the 1950s and 1960s said that…• Look back at why they said he was unlucky

• And historians in the 1990s also have some sympathy for John…

• Can you quote one of them here?

• The most unluckiest thing that happened to John was…… what do you think it is?

Conclusion

• It is/ it is not fair that people remember John as a bad king.

• This is because…• Give some examples to explain your judgment

• These examples clearly show that…