SED 481: Methods of Teaching English

Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College

Arizona State University
Dr. David Lee Carlson
Edgar Allan Poe:
Main Idea and Summarizing
Part 1 of 5
Your Name:
Date:
Course Title:
Period:
1, 2,

Chris Haynes
3/14/15
8th Grade ELA
3

Organizational Structures: Lecture and Whole Group Discussion

The class will start out with a lecture on Edgar Allan Poes life, literary
works, and accomplishments. Throughout the class the teacher will
pause the lecture to ask students questions and generate a small
whole group discussion.
Bell work: Write a Response
Students will have three minutes to sit at their desk and write a
response to the teacher provided prompt on the board. What do you
know about Edgar Allan Poe? Answers can include any prior
knowledge about Poe or lack thereof. Students will be asked to share
what they wrote.
Closure: Write a Response
At the end of class, students will be asked to write down three things
they learned about Poe in class. Students are allowed to use their
notes and will be asked to share what they wrote.
Aim: How do you summarize a main idea?
Objective: The students will apply the main idea by writing a summary.
State Standard: 8.RL.2
Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to
the characters, setting, and plot; provide and objective summary of the
text.
Instructional Objectives: Front Loading
Introduce Edgar Allan Poe as an author and a person.
Explain to the students the goal of writing a summary paper and how
well get there.

Literacy Skills: Note Taking

The importance of taking notes will be expressed and students will be
expected to take notes from the lecture and discussion about Poe.
Motivation: Personal Experiences My own and that of the students
Personal Story The professor who inspired me to do my best and
pushed me beyond my limits is a huge Poe fan. In his classes I was
introduced to a wealth of information, stories, and poems written about
and by Poe. His passion for literature and Poe in particular is what
inspired me to push harder against my perceived limitations.
Quote Never to suffer would never to have been blessed.
This quote will be used near the end of the lecture to generate a small
discussion about Poes life.
Directions:
As students come into class they will sit at their desk, take out a piece
of paper and writing utensil, and write their response to the question
on the board. What do you know about Edgar Allan Poe? Answers can
include any prior knowledge about Poe or lack thereof. Students will
then be asked to share what they wrote with the class.
The entirety of the class will be spent front loading Edgar Allan Poe.
After the initial discussion generated about Poe based on the Bell Work,
the teacher will open the lecture with a personal story before briefly
talking about the importance of note taking. Students will be expected
to be taking notes throughout the lesson.
After expressing the importance of taking notes, the teacher will
explain to the students that the goal of this unit is to write a summary
paper.
The lecture about Poe will begin with his early life. Starting with his
birth, paternal parents, and adoptive parents, the teacher will express
particular situations both in relation to the time period and Poes life
and how they had a major impact on his later works.
Ask for student questions.
Ask Pivotal Questions: 1 & 2.
1. How did Edgar Allan Poes mother die?
2. Who did Edgar Allan Poe live with after his mothers death?

After Poes early life has been covered and student questions have
been asked and answered, the teacher will continue the lecture about
Poe, this time talking about his military career, marriage to his cousin
Virginia, and her death.

Ask for student questions.

Ask Pivotal Questions: 3, 4, & 5.
3. What military academy did Edgar Allan Poe attend?
4. Is Poe believed to have consummated his marriage with Virginia?
5. What is meant by consummated his marriage?
After Poes military career, marriage to his cousin Virginia, and her
death have been covered and student questions have been asked and
answered, the teacher will continue to lecture about Poe, this time
talking about his pursuit of other women and his mysterious death.
Ask for student questions.
Ask Pivotal Questions: 6 & 7.
6. How did Edgar Allan Poe die?
7. How old was Edgar Allan Poe when he died?
After Poes pursuit of other women and his mysterious death have
been covered and student questions have been asked and answered,
the teacher will continue to lecture about Poe, this time talking about
his work as a publisher and author. This part of the lecture will focus
largely on Poes well-known works, but will introduce students to lesser
known stories.
Ask for student questions.
Ask Pivotal Question: 8.
8. What is the most fascinating story or poem weve talked about
that youd like to read?
After the lecture is completed and all student questions have been
answered, the teacher will read a quote from Poe and determine if they
think based on the quote that Poe was uniquely bless or cursed. This is
intended for a small whole group discussion if there is time before
closure.
Never to suffer would never to have been blessed.
After the lecture is completed and/or class time is almost over the
students will write down on a piece of paper three things they learned
about Poe in class. Students are allowed to use their notes and will be
asked to share what they write with the class.

Pivotal Questions:
1.
How did Edgar Allan Poes mother die?
2.
Who did Edgar Allan Poe live with after his mothers death?
3.
What military academy did Edgar Allan Poe attend?
4.
Is Poe believed to have consummated his marriage with Virginia?
5.
What is meant by consummated his marriage?
6.
How did Edgar Allan Poe die?
7.
How old was Edgar Allan Poe when he died?
8.
What is the most fascinating story or poem weve talked about
that youd like to read?
Materials Needed:
1. Paper
2. Pen / Pencil
Medial Summary:
During this lesson, students will learn about the life of Edgar Allan Poe
in preparation for a paper that will be written at the end of the week.
The students will learn about Poes biological and adoptive parents,
relatives, marriage, life, death, and literary works. Giving the students
this background information allows them to relate to the author and
build a connection with the material. Near the end of the lesson,
students will be asked to think about the most fascinating story or
poem weve talked aboutfurther immersing the students in
background information.
Application:
Interpersonal People Smart
Linguistic Word Smart
Logical Logic Smart
Final Summary:
Students will have an understanding of Poes family relationships
from childhood through death. This understanding of Poes
relationships will allow the student to see the similarities
between life and fiction. Furthermore, students will have been
given a brief survey of Poes other literary works.
Students will also have been informed of the upcoming paper.

Metacognitive on Pedagogy:
How does the bell work fit with the AIM?
o The bell work allows students to practice summarizing by
writing about their prior knowledge of Edgar Allan Poe.
o The bell work also allows the students to brainstorm on Poe
before we begin our lesson on his life and contributions.
Reviewing Poes Life
o Reviewing Poes life is beneficial because it allows the
students an insight into the author of studys life.
o Through background knowledge of Poe, connections can be
made between the events in his literary works and his life.
Introducing Poes Other Works
o Introducing Poes other works may arouse student interest
in the overall topic.
Closure
o Writing a list of three things students learned about Poe in
class allows the students to reflect on the lesson.
o Furthermore, it allows the teacher to assess what the
students learned during that particular lesson.
Review Homework: N/A
Homework: N/A
Summary of Lesson: (Note sure if I need it)
Through this lecture, students will be introduced to the life and works
of Edgar Allan Poe. The purpose of this lecture is to front load students
with information that will not only be engaging but helpful to the
understanding of whom Poe was and how his life influenced his writing.