“ Seabiscuit ” Background

What do you think the text we’ll be reading is about? What time period could it take place in? What other predictions can you make about the text?

“Seabiscuit” BackgroundOn New Year’s Eve, 1938, columnist Walter Winchell published his annual list of the year’s top ten newsmakers. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was among those mentioned. So was British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. The tenth spot, however, went to a horse. Seabiscuit was dun-colored and boxy, with stumpy legs that wouldn’t completely straighten, a straggly tail and an ungainly gait, but though he didn’t look the part, he was one of the most remarkable thoroughbred racehorses in history.

Vocab• Trepidation- nervous fear (n)• Inept- generally incompetent (adj)• Inaudibly- can’t be heard (adv)• Inexplicably- in a way that’s impossible to explain

(adv)• Optimal- best, most favorable (adj)• Increment- small, slight growth or increase (n)• Cadence- balanced, rhythmic flow (n)• Unequivocal- allowing no doubt or

misunderstanding (adj)

Brainstorm: What do you know about the Great Depression?

Pre-reading

Movie Trailer: Comments and impressions?Read through into in textbookRemember: non-fiction, pay attention to text

features that organize information, author’s purpose

While readingWhile reading, answer the guiding questions. At

the end of the excerpt, summarize in your own words.

After Reading• Horse of the century: article, timeline, radio

excerpt, questions• 1937 (Seabiscuit vs. Rosemont)• 1938 footage (Seabiscuit vs. War Admiral)• Film clip: Blind in one eye• Film ending: Seabiscuit vs. War Admiral