French Revolution Obituaries
Assignment Summary: As we are beginning to wrap up our unit on the French
Revolution, it’s important to reflect back and understand the complex lives (and deaths!)
of some of the notorious leaders who emerged. What legacies did they leave behind
when they died? How did they influence the people of France and the Revolution itself?
You may choose between King Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, and Maximilien
Robespierre, and you will write an obituary for the figure you choose. Be sure to capture
the important characteristics of their lives, as well as the dramatic details of their death.
Writer’s Purpose: This writing is practical/informative: writing in which the main intent
is to provide clear information.
Writer’s Role: You are writing as a French journalist for a newspaper in Paris.
Audience: Your audience is the newspaper readers of Paris. Many of them are
revolutionaries, and they are eager to read an interesting story.
Form: This Type 3 writing assignment will be written as an obituary. We will look at
in-class examples before we get started. Obituaries should pay respect to the person who
died by describing the person’s accomplishments, but they may also mention failures and
controversies. Your obituary must be a minimum of 15-20 hand-written lines.
FCAs:
1. Describe the person’s life in the past tense, including 3-4 interesting details (underline
each detail). 30 points
2. Explain when, where, how and why they died , and include the legacy they have left
behind in France. 20 points
3. Spelling. 5 points (1 point off for each error)
+ Picture: 5 points
Total: 60 points
Procedure:
-Brainstorm details you know about the person through a Type 1 list
-Create a Type 3 draft in class
-Read your draft aloud and make corrections
-Finalize Type 3 (may be typed or hand-written) and include picture