Before Reading
Establish a Purpose
Carefully read About the Selection on page 66 to find out when and why this speech was delivered. Write Elizabeth's purpose into your notebook. Keep this purpose in mind as you read the selection.
During Reading
Keep Purpose in Mind
1. Keep Elizabeth's purpose in mind as you listen to the speech. Jot down points that stand out to you as you listen.
2. Read the speech silently on your own. Keep Elizabeth's purpose in mind. How does she try to rally the troops?
Fix-Up Idea: Unlock Difficult Words
If you are struggling with the language in this selection, first preview the Words for Everyday Use and the footnotes. Use this information to help you understand the selection. If you encounter other words you do not know, try to use context clues to determine the meaning of the word. If that does not work, consult a dictionary. After you read through the speech once to unlock word meaning, read through the speech again, focusing on Elizabeth's purpose.
After Reading
Summarize Author's Purpose
With a few of your classmates, discuss the effectiveness of Elizabeth's speech and how you might have reacted if you were part of the audience for this speech.