Approaches Expectations

Course: English Language Arts
Type: Argumentation
Grade Level: 8
Structure: Analysis
Teaching Task 2: Does Walt Whitman adequately portray the sense of loss felt by Americans after
Abraham Lincoln’s assassination? After reading “O’Captain, My Captain” and other informational texts,
write an essay that addresses the question and support your position with evidence from the text(s). L2
Be sure to acknowledge competing views. L3 Give examples from past or current events or issues to
illustrate and clarify your position.
Performance Level: Approaches Expectations
The Great Abraham Lincoln
Not everybody in the United States felt remorse for Abraham Lincoln’s death. Walt Whitman
was a poet who wrote about Lincoln’s assassination using extended metaphors in his poem “O Captain!
My Captain!” When Abraham Lincoln was assassinated it struck many Americans because, many people
took him like a role model in their life. But the one person that took him like a real role model was
Whitman. But some people were happy that he was assassinated Especially the south. Many people in
the south, but some were sorrowful form his death. Through extended metaphors, Walt Whitman
accurately portrays the sense of loss felt by Americans after the assassination of president Lincoln in his
poem “O Captain! My Captain!”
Finally the war was over, everybody is celebrating and are happy that the north won the war. In
Walt Whitman’s Poem, he wrote that the ship has weathered every rack, the prize we sought is won.
Stating that they have won the war. Also it says the port in near, the bells I hear, the people all-exulting.
Stating that everybody is cheerful that the war is finally over and that the fearful trip is done. On April
14, 1865, was Good Friday. Lee had surrendered just five days earlier, and Washington was in a festive
mood. That afternoon when they were going to go to Ford’s Theater to celebrate, he would tell his wife
that he has never felt so happy in his whole life.
The Assassination of President Lincoln Shocked many nations. John Wilkes Booth shot President
Lincoln Right behind His right ear going through his head stopping near his eye. He went into a
concussion right away. He died the next day at 7:22 am on April 15 at age 56. It was then when
Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton Murmured, “now he belongs to the ages.” It’s saying in “O Captain!
My Captain!” to President Lincoln that for him to rise up and hear the bells, that for you the flag is flung.
It also says that it is some dream that captain on the deck you’ve fallen cold and dead.
The assassination of President Lincoln hurt many nations and saddened many thousands of
people. It says in “O Captain! My Captain!” that my father does not feel my arm; he has no pulse or will.
And it also says on the deck my captain has fallen cold and dead. But many didn’t southerners thought
that they saw President Lincoln as the course of all of their problems. They also blamed him for the
destruction of their land and livelihoods. Also one Texan described the assassination as ridding the
world of, “A monster that disgraced the form of humanity.”
Through extended metaphors, Walt Whitman accurately portrays the sense of loss felt by
Americans after the assassination of President Lincoln in his poem “O Captain! My Captain!” When
Abraham Lincoln was assassinated it struck many Americans because people took him like a role model
in their life especially Walt Whitman. Even though many southerners were happy he was assassinated
but some southerners were sad form his assassination. Abraham Lincoln was a great President to the
United State of America.
Works Cited
Freedman, Russell. “Lincoln: A Photobiography.” The Language of Literature. Ed.
McDougal Littell, Evanston, IL: Houghton Mifflin, 2006. Print.
“Northerner’s Reaction to Lincoln’s Assassination.” History Engine. University of Richmond, 2008. Web.
6 Mar 2011. http://historyengine.richmond.edu/
Whitman, Walt. “O Captain! My Captain!” The Language of Literature. Ed. McDougal Littell. Evanston, IL:
Houghton Mifflin, 2006. Print.
Annotation
Focus
2
Reading/Research 1.5
Controlling Idea
2
Development
2
Organization
1
Conventions
2
Content
Understanding
2
The writer addresses the prompt and establishes a position, but the focus is
uneven throughout the essay.
The writer provides evidence from research, but not all details are relevant
to support the claim. For example, details regarding Lincoln’s assassination
are reported, but this information is not relevant to the task. It is evident
that the writer is able to glean some meaning from the poem: In Walt
Whitman’s poem, he wrote that the ship has weathered every rack, the prize
we sought is won. Stating that they have won the war… However, the
relevance of this is not fully explained. At times, the writer shifts towards
writing an informational essay regarding Lincoln’s death and does not
connect points or facts to the argumentative task.
The writer establishes a claim: Through extended metaphors, Walt Whitman
accurately portrays the sense of loss felt by Americans after the assassination
of president Lincoln in his poem “O Captain! My Captain! This idea,
however, is not woven throughout the paper. The writer mentions a counter
claim, but does not respond to it.
The writer’s explanation of content is limited. The writer makes statements
relating to the claim but does not support them with relevant research and
detail. The writer attempts to reference the poem in paragraph four, but
does not draw meaning from those lines.
The writer uses a five paragraph structure. Transitions would enhance the
flow of ideas in the essay.
Capitalization errors are frequent, and sentence fragments are evident,
which makes readability slightly difficult. The writer does not include
parenthetical citations when needed or reference outside sources other than
the poem. The writer attempts to cite the poem but misses some
quotations. There is a standard format for the works cited page.
The writer briefly includes disciplinary content but shows an uneven
understanding of the content: The assassination of President Lincoln
shocked many nations.
This student would benefit from feedback, discussion, and/or instruction in the following areas:



Providing more thorough explanations and establishing clear connections in order to enhance
the development of the essay.
Supporting argumentative claims with relevant textual evidence.
Appropriate capitalization and sentence structure. (e.g., Abraham Lincoln was a great President
to the United State of America. ; Many people in the south, but some were sorrowful form his
death.)