The Death of Edgar Allan Poe Expository Writing Assignment, Due Friday, 2/26
Imagine that you are writing a biography of Poe. Write the last few paragraphs of your book, in which
you tell about Poe’s death. In your discussion, synthesize the information from the four sources by
paraphrasing the ideas and comparing and contrasting the points. End your account by drawing your
own conclusions from the information.
The four sources are found in Holt Literature and Language Arts Third Course pp.184-190.
“Poe’s Final Days,” p. 184-186
“Poe’s Death Is Rewritten as Case of Rabies, Not Telltale Alcohol,” pp.187-188
“If Only Poe Had Succeeded When He Said Nevermore to Drink,” p. 189
“Rabies Death Theory,” p. 190
Go to the following website to read the articles online:
http://my.hrw.com/la/nsmedia/eolit05_09_sampler/page184.htm
I will make a link to the Holt website available on my website.
I expect this to be one to two pages in length. In order to get full credit, you must talk about all four
articles! See Rubric below for full details.
Rubric
Element
Specific references to all four
articles either by paraphrasing or
quoting
Comparison and contrast of the
main points in the articles
Your own conclusion about Poe’s
death based on the information
in the articles
Grammar, mechanics, spelling
M.L.A. format (See document
entitled “Example of M.L.A.
Format ”.)
Process (rough draft and “Say,
Mean, Matter” chart)
Total Points
Possible Points
Actual Points
4
1
1
1
1
2
10
Percentage and Grade: ________________