NEWSPAPERSAND

PROGRESS

Historical Context

19th century England always concerned with making progress

Trying to improve on the past and lead to a more reasonable future

Scientific and technological advancesGas street lamps, steamboat,

railroads, savings banks, postal service

Newspapers

Gathering news from across the world = how Victorians measured their progress

Brought opinions and news about social conditions to public’s attention

The Times of LondonIndependent, objectiveCirculation: 5,000 in 1815 to 40,000 in

1850

Journalistic Essays

Short prose pieces Provide perspectives on current

events or trends Make serious or trivial stories out of

newsUse of the voice of an all-knowing

witnessOR

Offer individual opinions about common concerns

Literary Terms Informative language: provides facts

Ex.: The peasants were killed by troops.

Emotive language: uses words, phrases, and examples for emotional effectEx.: The peasants were slaughtered by

troops.

Important to identify because an author may be biased

Sydney Smith 1771-1845 Writer and preacher Co-founded The Edinburgh Review Wrote about progress in serious

issuesGovernment reform, prisons, slavery,

religious freedom Celebrates progress in areas of

personal comfort we now depend onStreetlights, railways, umbrellas

“Progress in Personal Comfort”

Take notes! You can use them on the Reading

Check Quiz after we read.

“Progress in Personal Comfort”Reading Check Quiz

1. (1) What don’t we realize when we are born?

2. (1) What is Smith going to do in the article?

3. Name one example given in informative language.

4. Name one example given in emotive language.

5. Name two improvements in public safety.

6. Name two improvements in transportation.

7. (7) What does Smith mean by “I am now ashamed

that I was not more discontented”?

Classwork p. 957, #s 4 & 5 (Smith only)

List 10 modern amenities that did not exist in or have improved since your parents’ time.

Rank these improvements in order of personal importance.

Choose your top 5 and write in a similar manner as Smith about these progressions. (10-15 sent.)What has improved? How has this affected society? Is

there a difference between your life and your parents’ because of these progressions?

Try to imagine 2-3 improvements that may be made in the future and describe these. (5-7 sent.)Why might this happen? How will this progress affect your

life? In what ways might these improvements help society?