1. Nonfiction Texts and Organizational Patterns
Poe Texts
Nonfiction Texts and Organizational Patterns
Read to identify and understand how and why texts are organized differently

2. Who (or What) Killed Edgar Allan Poe?

3. Literary Response
Read the texts carefully and identify the possible theories and supporting evidence contained in each text.
Evaluate the possible causes of Poe’s death and identify the cause you think is most believable.
State your opinion, supporting details, and sources you found most convincing.
Explain your thoughts and ideas and use evidence from the texts to support your response.

4. Read with a Purpose What really happened during Poe’s last days?
Read this selection to learn of one writer’s ideas.

5. “Poe’s Final Days”
Informational Focus
Supporting Evidence – Why does Snodgrass think that Poe might have been robbed or cheated out of his clothing?
Main Idea – How would you paraphrase this paragraph? In what way does paraphrasing help you find the main idea?
Main Idea – How does Poe’s behavior at the hospital support the main idea of this selection?
Supporting Evidence – Why didn’t Dr. Moran believe that Poe died of alcohol poisoning?

12. “Poe’s Final Days” Drawing Conclusions
According to Kenneth Silverman, author of “Poe’s Final Days”, the most likely cause of Poe’s death was ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The evidence that points to this cause includes…
*_________________________________________________________________

13. “Poe’s Final Days” Drawing Conclusions
Examine each piece of evidence and state whether it is a FACT or an OPINION.
Does this perspective change they way you think about Silverman’s theory? Should it?
Is there anything you can do to clarify the information in the text?

14. “Poe’s Final Days”
Drawing Conclusions
Do you agree or disagree with the theory Silverman puts forth in the biography?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Explain why or why not.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

15. Read with a Purpose
Read the following article for a different account of what might have caused Poe’s death.

16. “Poe’s Death is Rewritten…”
Informational Focus
Noting Details – Make a list of the evidence about Poe’s condition in this article that is similar to that in the biography you just read?
What evidence is different?
B. Supporting Evidence – What supporting evidence does Jeff Jerome offer for Dr. Benitez’s theory?

23. Compare & Contrast
Analyze how the diagnosis in this article differs from the diagnosis in the biography. Note the evidence the author provides for this different theory.

24. “Poe’s Death is Rewritten…”
“Poe’s Final Days”
“Poe’s Death is Rewritten…”
Compare and contrast the biography and the newspaper article.
Look at how the diagnosis for Poe’s death differs in the two texts.
What information is similar in both texts?
What information is different in both texts?
Read the quotes by Dr. Henry Wilde and Jeff Jerome. Explain which quote best supports the idea that Poe died of rabies.

25. Letters to the Editor
“If Only Poe Had Succeeded When He Said Nevermore to Drink” page 304
What are “letters to the editor”?
Who can write a letter to the editor?
What new fact is presented about rabies in this letter?
What qualifications do the authors of the first letter have?
Complete the facts and opinion section from this article after you have read it carefully.

26. Letters to the Editor “Rabies Death Theory” page 305
Does knowing what happened to Poe’s cat strengthen, weaken, or make no difference to Dr. Benitez’s rabies theory?
EXPLAIN your thoughts!!!
B. What qualifications does the author of the second letter have?
C. Complete the facts and opinion section for this article after you have read it carefully.

27. Literary Response
Read the texts carefully and identify the details needed to complete the chart. Use the text and any other materials you have to complete the information required.
Name of Text
Author
Details About the Author
Theory about Poe’s Death
Evidence and Support Included to Support the Theory
Rank the Evidence and Support from 1-10
(1-lowest, 10-highest)

28. The Process of Research
Respond to each question in the best way possible.
Which theory about Poe’s death to you find most credible?
Where did the theory originate?
Who stated the theory?
What evidence was included to support the theory you believe?
Why do you think this theory makes the most sense?
Why do you not agree with the other theories and evidence?

29. Literary Response
Read the texts carefully and identify the possible theories and supporting evidence for each one.
Evaluate the possible causes of Poe’s death and identify the cause you think is most believable.
State your opinion as well as the supporting details you found most convincing.
Explain your thoughts and ideas and use evidence from the text to support your response.