NCTE INBOX

November 15, 2005
...ideas
Free access to journal articles and book excerpts mentioned in this Inbox is provided for 21 days. After this free access period expires, articles are available to journal subscribers only.


The Gettysburg Address Seven score and two years ago, Abraham Lincoln delivered his Gettysburg Address. Try the following resources to explore the famous speech or to talk about history and historical documents in the classroom. The ReadWriteThink lesson Engaging Students in a Collaborative Exploration of the Gettysburg Address invites groups of students to learn more about the historical significance of the famous speech by participating in inquiry projects that explore the words and phrases of the speech itself. Adapt the Voices from the Middle article "Dinner Party" (M-S) to fit any historical period! The article outlines a "meeting of the minds" dinner party project, complete with activities and suggestions for assessment. Explore primary and secondary sources with your class using the ReadWriteThink lesson Myth and Truth: The Gettysburg Address (S), which explores commonly-believed "facts" about this important speech and the Civil War. (You do know that Lincoln did NOT write the Address on the back of an envelope, don't you?) College students can explore primary articles on the famous address (or any historical event) for evidence of doublespeak. Begin by reading the press release "Doublespeak in the News of Sand Creek and Gettysburg" (S-C), from the 1993 Quarterly Review of Doublespeak. After reflecting on the analysis in the article, ask students to explore and analyze the use of doublespeak in other historical documents (or even current-day texts). To define doublespeak further, tap the article "Doublespeak: Its Meaning and Its Menace" (S-C), from the 1988 Quarterly Review of Doublespeak. For additional Web resources, texts, and ideas, see the ReadWriteThink calendar entry on the Gettysburg Address. Thanksgiving Extra! If you're looking for activities that tie to the upcoming holiday, check the ReadWriteThink calendar entry: America celebrates Thanksgiving Day. NOTE: Free access to journal articles mentioned in this Inbox is provided for 21 days. After this free access period expires, articles are available to journal subscribers only. This Inbox Idea was published 02-15-2005. Initials in annotations indicate academic level of the resource (E=Elementary, M=Middle, S=Secondary, C=College, G=General).