Poe TextsNonfiction Texts and

Organizational Patterns

Read to identify and understand how and why texts are organized

differently

Who (or What) Killed Edgar Allan

Poe?

Literary ResponseRead 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.

Read with a PurposeWhat really happened during Poe’s last days?Read this selection to learn of

one writer’s ideas.

“Poe’s Final Days”Informational Focus

A. Supporting Evidence – Why does Snodgrass think that Poe might have been robbed or cheated out of his clothing?

B. Main Idea – How would you paraphrase this paragraph? In what way does paraphrasing help you find the main idea?

C. Main Idea – How does Poe’s behavior at the hospital support the main idea of this selection?

D. Supporting Evidence – Why didn’t Dr. Moran believe that Poe died of alcohol poisoning?

“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…*_____________________________________________

*_____________________________________________

*_____________________________________________

“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?

“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.__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Read with a PurposeRead the following article for a different account of what might

have caused Poe’s death.

“Poe’s Death is Rewritten…”Informational Focus

A. 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?

Compare & ContrastAnalyze how the diagnosis in this article differs from the diagnosis

in the biography. Note the evidence the author provides for

this different theory.

“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.

Letters to the Editor“If Only Poe Had Succeeded When He

Said Nevermore to Drink” page 304A. What are “letters to the editor”?B. Who can write a letter to the editor? C. What new fact is presented about

rabies in this letter?D. What qualifications do the authors of

the first letter have? E. Complete the facts and opinion

section from this article after you have read it carefully.

Letters to the Editor“Rabies Death Theory” page 305

A. 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.

Literary ResponseRead 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)

The Process of ResearchRespond to each question in the best way possible.

1. Which theory about Poe’s death to you find most credible?

2. Where did the theory originate?3. Who stated the theory?4. What evidence was included to support

the theory you believe?5. Why do you think this theory makes the

most sense?6. Why do you not agree with the other

theories and evidence?

Literary ResponseRead 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.