Informational Texts Connecting to the Literature Introducing the Informational Texts Vocabulary Informational Reading Focus: Synthesizing Sources Synthesizing Sources Assignment Informational Text Synthesizing Sources: Main Ideas and Supporting Evidence Feature Menu

The death of Edgar Allan Poe, author of “The Cask of Amontillado,” is shrouded in mystery. Most scholars believe that Poe died as a result of drinking too much alcohol. According to another theory, Poe died of rabies, a disease people can get when they are bitten or scratched by an animal infected with the rabies virus. The following four selections present a debate about what killed this tragic genius. [End of Section] Connecting to the Literature

“Poe’s Final Days” “If Only Poe Had Succeeded When He Said Nevermore to Drink” “Poe’s Death Is Rewritten as a Case of Rabies, Not Telltale Alcohol” “Rabies Death Theory” Introducing the Informational Texts

When you research a subject, you read many different sources. Then you need to synthesize, or put all the pieces together, to see the big picture. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3 Source 4 Synthesizing Sources

Steps for Synthesizing Find the main idea. Take notes about the writer’s most important point, opinion, or message. If you encounter a difficult passage, paraphrase it, or restate it in your own words. Synthesizing Sources

Look for supporting evidence—facts, statistics, examples, anecdotes, or quotations. To help find the writer’s main idea and support, try making a chart. Main Idea 1Main Idea 2 Support 1 Support 2 Support 1 Support 2 Steps for Synthesizing Synthesizing Sources

What is the writer’s main idea? What are some pieces of supporting evidence? Quick Check The writer entered Washington College Hospital comatose, Dr. Benitez said, but by the next day was perspiring heavily, hallucinating, and shouting at imaginary companions. The next day, he seemed better but could not remember falling ill. On his fourth day at the hospital, Poe again grew confused and belligerent, then quieted down and died. That is a classic case of rabies, the doctor said. from “Poe’s Death Is Rewritten as a Case of Rabies, Not Telltale Alcohol” (from The New York Times, September 15, 1996) Synthesizing Sources

Quick Check What is the writer’s main idea? Synthesizing Sources The writer entered Washington College Hospital comatose, Dr. Benitez said, but by the next day was perspiring heavily, hallucinating, and shouting at imaginary companions. The next day, he seemed better but could not remember falling ill. On his fourth day at the hospital, Poe again grew confused and belligerent, then quieted down and died. That is a classic case of rabies, the doctor said. from “Poe’s Death Is Rewritten as a Case of Rabies, Not Telltale Alcohol” (from The New York Times, September 15, 1996)

Poe was perspiring heavily, hallucinating, and belligerent. Quick Check What are some pieces of supporting evidence? Synthesizing Sources The writer entered Washington College Hospital comatose, Dr. Benitez said, but by the next day was perspiring heavily, hallucinating, and shouting at imaginary companions. The next day, he seemed better but could not remember falling ill. On his fourth day at the hospital, Poe again grew confused and belligerent, then quieted down and died. That is a classic case of rabies, the doctor said. from “Poe’s Death Is Rewritten as a Case of Rabies, Not Telltale Alcohol” (from The New York Times, September 15, 1996)

Compare and contrast. Look for similarities and differences among the sources, especially in the author’s main idea and the types of support used. Make connections. Is the information in the sources familiar to you? Have you read about it in other places? Steps for Synthesizing Synthesizing Sources

What other theories have you heard about Poe’s death? Quick Check Synthesizing Sources The writer entered Washington College Hospital comatose, Dr. Benitez said, but by the next day was perspiring heavily, hallucinating, and shouting at imaginary companions. The next day, he seemed better but could not remember falling ill. On his fourth day at the hospital, Poe again grew confused and belligerent, then quieted down and died. That is a classic case of rabies, the doctor said. from “Poe’s Death Is Rewritten as a Case of Rabies, Not Telltale Alcohol” (from The New York Times, September 15, 1996)

Possible answers: Poe died as a result of epilepsy, a beating, heart trouble, or diabetes. Quick Check What other theories have you heard about Poe’s death? Synthesizing Sources The writer entered Washington College Hospital comatose, Dr. Benitez said, but by the next day was perspiring heavily, hallucinating, and shouting at imaginary companions. The next day, he seemed better but could not remember falling ill. On his fourth day at the hospital, Poe again grew confused and belligerent, then quieted down and died. That is a classic case of rabies, the doctor said. from “Poe’s Death Is Rewritten as a Case of Rabies, Not Telltale Alcohol” (from The New York Times, September 15, 1996)

Putting It All Together Once you’ve completed all the steps, put the pieces together. To synthesize what you’ve learned, you may want to write a research report, editorial, speech or letter on the topic. Synthesizing Sources [End of Section]

After you read these four articles concerning Poe’s death, synthesize the information. [End of Section] Find the main idea of each article. Identify the supporting evidence for each main idea. Make connections with other sources. After You Read: compare and contrast main ideas and evidence. Assignment

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