Zinn Chapter 9 and Owl Creek
Objectives:
• To demonstrate your understanding of the themes within “An Occurrence at Owl
Creek Bridge”
• To compare texts about the same time period to each other
• To analyze the text from literary devices
• To demonstrate your understanding of Zinn Chapter 9
• To evaluate Zinn’s argument in chapter 9
Agenda
• Discuss An Occurrence at Owl Creek
• Discuss Zinn Chapter 9
HW:
• Andrew Johnsons First Annual Message to Congress
• Thaddeus Stevens Speech to Congress
• Frederick Douglass’s Evaluation of Reconstruction
• Prepare for Reconstruction debate
“An Occurrence at Owl Creek
Bridge”
• What themes are apparent in this short story? How do
they connect to the themes within “Beloved”?
• Does the story feel realistic, or is it intended to be
fantastic in some way? Is this merely entertainment, or
is there a meaning to the tale?
• Bierce was a Union soldier--does this story shed any
light on his views of himself, his cause, or his enemies?
• What might this story suggest about Northern attitudes
about the war and the South in the years following the
war?
ZinnChapter 9 Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Why write this chapter? Did Zinn really present any information that wasn’t
obvious or in the textbook?
What is Zinn’s view of Lincoln? Do you agree or disagree with his view?
Why does Zinn continually bring up black resistance to slavery and racists
ideals of the reconstruction south? What is he trying to highlight that he feels
is overlooked in history? Why would it be important to the study of history
and race relations in America even today?
Zinn mentions the role of the Ku Klux Klan in helping to bring about the end
of slavery. He calls them terrorist, why is it that our nation is so ready to hunt
down terrorists in other nations and leave them be in our own country?
In studying reconstruction what do you feel the purpose of it was? To restore
the Union? Or to secure freedom and social equality for all regardless of
race? If it was to restore the Union was it a failure or a success? If it was to
ensure freedom and social equality was it a failure or a success? Are these
two ideas mutually exclusive?
How is Zinn’s chapter different than chapter 22 of the textbook? Is this
chapter speaking to everyone, to separate groups at separate times, or to
one particular group? Why?
Groups
• Resolution: Reconstruction was a success because it
successfully reunited the country and by 1885 America was
prospering and growing.
• If you last name starts with A-H you are on the Affirmative
Side
• If you last name starts with K-Y you are on the Negative Side
Debate Prep
• You must prepare the following things for the Debate on
Thursday
• You need a position statement
• This is an argument that outlines your stance and provide substantial evidence
to back it up. This should be pretty long as it is your entire argument.
• You need a list of evidence
• This is literally a list of all the possible evidence you will/can use in your
position statement as well as a rebuttal if necessary
• You need a list of reasons
• Each piece of evidence should also include an explanation of how it supports
your side of the argument
• This must be turned in to turnitin.com by 7:00 Thursday January
5th
Reconstruction debate
 1AC (first Affirmative Constructive) – 7 minutes
A good introduction that attracts the audiences attention and interest in the topic
Clearly state the resolution
Clearly state each of your contentions
Support with reason and evidence
Conclude effectively
 Cross Ex of the Aff by the Neg – 3 minutes
You ask questions – have a strategy or at the very least a direction to your questioning
Be courteous
Face the audience
 1NC (first Negative Constructive) – 8 minutes
A good introduction that attracts the audiences attention and interest in the topic
Clearly state the Negative’s position on the topic
Clearly state the Negative’s Observations
Support with reason and evidence
Attack and question the Affirmative’s Contentions/evidence
Conclude effectively
 Cross Ex of the Neg by the Aff – 3 minutes
You ask questions – have a strategy or at the very least a direction to your questioning
Be courteous
Face the audience
Reconstruction Debate
 Rebuttal Speeches – No new arguments are allowed – new evidence, analysis
is ok
 1AR (first Affirmative Rebuttal) - 4 minutes
Respond to the Neg Observations – show how they are not as strong/relevant
as the Aff Contentions
Rebuild the Aff case
 NR (Negative Rebuttal) – 7 minutes
Respond to latest Affirmative arguments
Make your final case to the audience that the Neg position is superior to the Aff
Try and convince the audience the Aff has failed to carry the burden of proof
Summarize the debate and conclude effectively and ask for the audience to
agree with the Neg position
 2AR (second Affirmative Rebuttal) – 4 minutes
Respond to final Negative arguments
Summarize the debate and show the audience how the Aff position is superior
– and the Aff has
carried the burden of proof
Conclude effectively.