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K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Myth and truth: The Gettysburg Address

http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=885

A lesson plan for grade 11 English Language Arts

Provider: IRA/NCTE


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By exploring myths surrounding the “Gettysburg Address,” this lesson asks students to think critically about commonly believed “facts” about this important speech and the Civil War. Students participate in a pre-reading writing activity that challenges them to question truth in fiction and nonfiction writing. Then, after a brief discussion of their thoughts, the teacher reads an introduction to the Gettysburg Address as students pay attention to historical details. Students write questions they have about the speech and the time period and share their thoughts in small groups. After students read the speech, they analyze the purpose and audience using guiding questions and a graphic organizer. Once students have completed their analysis, they participate in a class discussion and examine the common myths about the speech. Using a variety of resources, students work in groups to uncover the truths about the “Gettysburg Address”. When they have finished their research, students present their information to the class and then discuss how their perceptions of the speech have changed because of the activity. Readwritethink provides links to the text of and information about the Gettysburg Address, questions for analysis, a rubric and other helpful web resources.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

English Language Arts (2004)

Grade 11

  • Goal 1: The learner will demonstrate increasing insight and reflection to print and non-print text through personal expression.
    • Objective 1.02: Reflect and respond expressively to texts so that the audience will:
      - discover multiple perspectives.
      - investigate connections between life and literature.
      - explore how the student's life experiences influence his or her response to the selection.
      - recognize how the responses of others may be different.
      - articulate insightful connections between life and literature.
      -consider cultural or historical significance.
  • Goal 2: The learner will inform an audience by using a variety of media to research and explain insights into language and culture.
    • Objective 2.01: Research ideas, events, and/or movements related to United States culture by:
      - locating facts and details for purposeful elaboration.
      - organizing information to create a structure for purpose, audience, and context.
      - excluding extraneous information.
      -providing accurate documentation.
    • Objective 2.03: Respond to informational texts by:
      - using a variety of strategies for preparation, engagement, and reflection.
      - paraphrasing main ideas and supporting details present in texts.
      -explaining significant connections among the speaker's/author's purpose, tone, biases, and the message for the intended audience.
  • Goal 4: The learner will critically analyze text to gain meaning, develop thematic connections, and synthesize ideas.
    • Objective 4.01: Interpret meaning for an audience by:
      - examining the functions and the effects of narrative strategies such as plot, conflict, suspense, point of view, characterization, and dialogue.
      - interpreting the effect of figures of speech (e.g., personification, oxymoron) and the effect of devices of sound (e.g., alliteration, onomatopoeia).
      - analyzing stylistic features such as word choice and links between sense and sound.
      - identifying ambiguity, contradiction, irony, parody, and satire.
      - demonstrating how literary works reflect the culture that shaped them.
    • Objective 4.03: Assess the power, validity, and truthfulness in the logic of arguments given in public and political documents by:
      - identifying the intent and message of the author or artist.
      - recognizing how the author addresses opposing viewpoints.
      - articulating a personal response to the message and method of the author or artist.
      -evaluating the historical significance of the work.