“Mysterious Mr. Lincoln”

Holt pages 330 -336

State Standards

Identify the effects of metaphors on a non-fiction article.

Clarify an understanding of texts by creating outlines, notes, summaries

Identify an author’s perspective/point of view on a subject

Make reasonable assertions of a text through accurate, supporting citations

How can we organize details as we read?

Identify several main topics for the selection

Go back and take notes on details later

An outline is one note-taking strategy, but specific rules are to be followed.

Main Ideas

I. AppearanceII. PersonalityIII. Legend versus Reality IV. Education V. Humor and beliefsVI. Reputation during presidency VII. Position on slavery

Read with purpose! What are 3 details you could include for each main topic?

Outline

Roman numerals followed by a period

Align the periods Main heading first word always

capitalized Align main heading first letters Try to write in a parallel form (same

types of wording, phrases, etc) Include main ideas!

Non-Fiction Articles

What are the reasons that authors choose to write about their non-fiction topics?

How can readers figure out what the author’s feelings or perspectives are?

Author’s Perspective on Subject

Why did the author choose the subject?

What is the author’s point of view on it?

What is the author’s purpose for writing about the subject?

What is the author’s perspective or feelings on the subject?

How to identify author’s perspective?

Look at title. Look at “Meet the Writer” to find out

about the author’s background. Look at key “emotion” words in intro

and conclusion. Look at key quotes that show

underlying meaning!

Title

Does “Mysterious Mr. Lincoln” give the reader any clues?

Why is Lincoln mysterious? What is mystery?

Author: Russell Freedman

“The Lincoln that I grew up with was a cardboard figure, too good to believe. As an adult, I read a couple of books that indicated that he like everyone else—someone subject to depression, someone who had trouble making up his mind—and that intrigued me. When I decided he was a complicated person in his own right, I decided I wanted to know more about him” (335).

Key Quotes

“Abraham Lincoln wasn’t the sort of man who could lose himself in a crowd” (331).

“According to those who knew him, Lincoln was a man of many faces” (331).

Key Quotes

“Today, it’s hard to imagine Lincoln as he really was” (332).

“In his own time, Lincoln was never fully understood by even his closest friends” (333).

Key Quote

“We admire Lincoln today as an American folk hero. During the Civil War, however, he was one of the most unpopular president the nation has ever known. His critics called him a tyrant, a hick, a stupid baboon unfit for his office” (334).

End Quote!

“His greatest mission was to accomplish two things: first to save his country from dismemberment and ruin; and second, to free his country from the great crime of slavery…infinite wisdom has seldom sent any man into the world better fitted for his mission than Abraham Lincoln” (334).

Outline

I. Appearance A. Tall B. Silk hat C. Long, bony legs D. Homely E. “Poor, lean, lank face” F. Knew he wasn’t attractive

Outline

II. Personality A. “Man of many faces” B. Sad and gloomy C. Charismatic speaker D. “Changeable features, tones,

gestures and expressions seemed to defy

description” E. Didn’t reveal much about his

feelings

Outline

III. Legend versus reality A. “a humble man of the people who rose

from a log cabin to the White House” B. “folksy manners” C. “bawdy jokes” D. Ambitious E. Earned wealth through law practice F. Hated nickname “Abe” G. Well-dressed

Outline

IV. Education A. Little schooling B. Great public speaker C. Self-taught

Outline

V. Humor and beliefs A. Famous for funny stories B. Moody and depressed at times C. Logical and practical D. Superstitious

Outline

VI. Reputation during presidency A. Unpopular president during Civil

War B. Opposing viewpoints of him C. “Great Emancipator”

Outline

VII. Position of Slavery A. First wanted to save the Union B. Realized that it was a moral

crusade C. Frederick Douglass didn’t respect

Lincoln at first D. Frederick Douglass changed his

mind