Ros Atkins explainer: Manchester City

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This should be read in conjunction with my comments on the new book by Ros Atkins, The Art of Explanation: how to communicate with clarity and confidence.

Atkins is best known now for his short precise video ‘explainers’ of current issues, and these can be used effectively in class, so here is one example, with the kinds of questions that might be asked, and some notes on what might be noticed. You don’t have to have read the whole book to do these, but I recommend you do, since it is a highly-effective explanation in itself of how to use English precisely.

I have chosen an explainer on the charge that Manchester City, Premier League and European Cup champions in men’s football, may have broken financial rules. Some pupils in your class might be interested in football, but if they know City it will be through Erling Haaland’s goalscoring feats rather than the abstruse details of financial fair play regulations, so this is a good test of how effective they think the explanation is. Some will have no interest in football at all. YouTube video below, BBC link here.

The film is only 6 minutes long, and so you have a chance to show it twice, with pupils picking up anything they have missed on the second run-through.

Some questions you might post before they look at the 6-minute film. Advise them to jot down some notes, and say they will have a second chance to look at it.

  • On a scale of 0 to 10 (low to high) how much knowledge do you already have about this subject?

  • Note down the various techniques that Atkins uses to get across the information (later, ask them to say which stand out, which are most effective).

  • Were you confused by anything?

  • Was there any point at which your attention drifted?

  • When you have watched twice, write down in bullet point form the core of what you now understand.

  • And now on a scale of 0 to 10 how much do you understand? (the real test here would be asking that question weeks later).

And some things the teacher might comment on, or draw out through questioning afterwards:

  • Direct address at the camera: presenter looking straight at us.

  • The pace: the direct opening followed rapidly by an expert. Several more independent experts - all their contributions are snappy; some return.

  • Context: he goes back to the ‘transformation’ of the club to show what has changed. Images: despairing fans contrasting with celebrating fans.

  • Reliable source - quotation from a former City CEO, who should know what he’s talking about.

  • Captions highlight crucial information (€60 million fine).

  • Pull quotes: the glory being ‘rooted in lies’.

  • UEFA statement on screen.

  • Linking phrases - how they push on the story and create momentum.

  • Drama: ‘in February there was another development’ - the BBC news report draws us on in the narrative structure.

  • Clip with Pep Guardiola.

  • RA warns us about the complexity: ‘But this case won’t be quick’.

  • Highlighting tool (on headline about fighting the charges).

  • Coming to an end: tone of voice wraps up: ‘And so…’