Lessons Using Primary Sources Truman’s Fair deal speech Close Reading Analysis Lesson By Dean Berry, Ed. D. Gregg Berry, B.A.

Lessons Using Primary Sources

Truman’s Fair deal speech

Close Reading Analysis Lesson By Dean Berry, Ed. D. Gregg Berry, B.A.

Primary Sources are the Key to Reliable Information

Even though most of the time we get our information from textbooks, videos, and news reports, all information begins with primary sources such as personal records, eye witness accounts, speeches, artifacts, data displays(charts and graphs), photographs, and documents. In order to verify the accuracy of theories and conclusions, it can be very important to analyze primary sources.

How are primary sources different from secondary sources?

Primary sources offer direct information from those who actually experienced an event or occurrence.

People who participated in sit-ins or protests during the civil rights movement were eye witnesses to important historical events. They watched real history unfolding right before their eyes. When they speak or write about those events, their perspective provides valuable information about what happened during those sit-ins and protests. Eye witness accounts are important primary sources of information and offer more accurate facts than secondary sources that are not based on first hand observations of the actual events.

Primary sources include charts, graphs, letters, documents, eye witnesses, recordings, and photographs.

Reading Primary Documents

Understanding primary documentsrequires special reading skills and

sophisticated questioning strategies.

Through close reading it is possible to determine the reason the author wrote the text. Understanding the author’s purpose prepares us to analyze the real intent of the author’s message. If we are unable to fully understand the author’s purpose, we may be easily duped as the author pulls the wool over our eyes.

Author’s PurposeAuthors write for many different reasons. Sometimes they write expository text in order to present information. Sometimes authors intend to entertain readers. But often, writers are trying to persuade their audience to accept specific ideas and attitudes. In these cases, the reader needs to read very carefully to ensure that the author’s ideas are valid and supported by solid evidence. So understanding the author’s purpose is the first step to being an effective reader.

Authors have different reasons for writing text.

What is the author’s purpose in writing this text?

Truman’s Fair Deal Speech

•Examine what Truman says and how he says it.•What is his purpose in making this speech to the American people?•Give examples from the text to support your answer.

from Harry Truman’s State of the Union Address, January 5, 1949“As we look around the country, many of our shortcomings stand out. . . . Our minimum wages are far too low. . . . Our farmers still face an uncertain future. And too many of them lack the benefits of our modern civilization. Some of our natural resources are still being wasted. We are acutely short of electric power. . . . Five million families are still living in slums and firetraps. . . . Proper medical care is so expensive that it is out of the reach of the great majority of our citizens. Our schools. . . .are utterly inadequate. Our democratic ideals are often thwarted by prejudice and intolerance. . . . Every individual has a right to expect from our Government a fair deal.”

Look more closely at what Truman is saying.• “As we look around the

country, many of our shortcomings stand out. . . . Our minimum wages are far too low. . . . Our farmers still face an uncertain future. And too many of them lack the benefits of our modern civilization. Some of our natural resources are still being wasted. We are acutely short of electric power. . . .

Let’s read this speech again and uncover the author’s purpose.

Select the words and phrases that point to the author’s purpose.

• Five million families are still living in slums and firetraps. . . . Proper medical care is so expensive that it is out of the reach of the great majority of our citizens. Our schools. . . .are utterly inadequate. Our democratic ideals are often thwarted by prejudice and intolerance. . . . Every individual has a right to expect from our Government a fair deal.”

•Were you able to determine the author’s purpose?

•How does the text help you identify the author’s purpose?

Close Reading Strategies

Text dependent questions can be asked to uncover stylistic devices used by the author.

Does the author use words that convey emotion or establish the tone of the text?

How does the author establish the tone of this selection?

How do words help create the tone of this text selection?

What clues in the text are used to establish a particular tone?

The tone may be very thoughtful with a presentation of facts on both sides of the issue or…

Analyzing President Truman’s Speech

… the tone may stimulate an emotion or create a specific mood that helps the author deliver his/her message.

There are many different tones that authors can use to get across their message.

Identify the words in the text that evoke feelings or images and set the tone of the selection.

President Truman’s Speech

•Read the following speech closely and look for words and phrases that set a tone for the speech.

•How would you describe the tone of the speech?

from Harry Truman’s State of the Union Address, January 5, 1949“As we look around the country, many of our shortcomings stand out. . . . Our minimum wages are far too low. . . . Our farmers still face an uncertain future. And too many of them lack the benefits of our modern civilization. Some of our natural resources are still being wasted. We are acutely short of electric power. .

•Which words used by the author convey the tone of this text?

•What tone do you think is set in this speech?

•Read the remainder of the speech on the next frame.

from Harry Truman’s State of the Union Address, January 5, 1949“As we look around the country, many of our shortcomings stand out. . . . Our minimum wages are far too low. . . . Our farmers still face an uncertain future. And too many of them lack the benefits of our modern civilization. Some of our natural resources are still being wasted. We are acutely short of electric power. .

Use your own paper to write some of the words and phrases that set the tone for this speech.

Describe the tone of the speech.

Recognizing the author’s theme or thesis is a vital close reading skill.

Identify the theme of the reading selection and provide evidence directly from the text.

Pair Share

Turn to a student near you and take turns explaining what you think is the theme of Truman’s speech. Choose the words or phrases that support your theme. Go to Next frame

• . . Five million families are still living in slums and firetraps. . . . Proper medical care is so expensive that it is out of the reach of the great majority of our citizens. Our schools. . . .are utterly inadequate. Our democratic ideals are often thwarted by prejudice and intolerance. . . . Every individual has a right to expect from our Government a fair deal.”

Read closely and determine the theme of this speech.

• . . Five million families are still living in slums and firetraps. . . . Proper medical care is so expensive that it is out of the reach of the great majority of our citizens. Our schools. . . .are utterly inadequate. Our democratic ideals are often thwarted by prejudice and intolerance. . . . Every individual has a right to expect from our Government a fair deal.”

Write the theme of this speech on your paper and include specific examples from the text that support your selection of a theme.

Sliding from the Past to the Present

• Once we have thoroughly analyzed the primary document based on specific textual evidence, we can consider the implications these ideas might have for the present world. Learning from the past can be very helpful in making decisions for the future.• Which ideas presented by President Truman resonate with

people today?• Which one of these ideas do you believe is very important for

our country to deal with right now? Explain why you believe this and provide supporting details.

from Harry Truman’s State of the Union Address, January 5, 1949“As we look around the country, many of our shortcomings stand out. . . . Our minimum wages are far too low. . . . Our farmers still face an uncertain future. And too many of them lack the benefits of our modern civilization. Some of our natural resources are still being wasted. We are acutely short of electric power. . . . Five million families are still living in slums and firetraps. . . . Proper medical care is so expensive that it is out of the reach of the great majority of our citizens. Our schools. . . .are utterly inadequate. Our democratic ideals are often thwarted by prejudice and intolerance. . . . Every individual has a right to expect from our Government a fair deal.”

Class Discussion

•Are any of the issues presented in Truman’s speech over 65 years ago relevant today?

•Which one of these problems presented by President Truman do you think should be debated and solved in today’s world?

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