CLEvR Paragraph Assignment on Edgar Allan Poe
DIRECTIONS: Write a CLEvR Paragraph answering the following writing prompt about the
works of Edgar Allan Poe and their relationship to his life. Use TWO pieces of evidence.
Each piece of evidence should include an event from his life and a piece of evidence from
either “Annabel Lee” or “The Raven” that proves he wrote about this event.
Argue that the events of Edgar Allan Poe’s life affected his writing.
CLAIM: (Make a strong and clear position statement that relates to the thesis or main idea.)
The tragic events of Edgar Allan Poe’s life greatly affected... [FINISH THIS CLAIM]
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LEAD IN: (Put your evidence in context by providing relevant background information.)
Edgar Allan Poe was [PUT WHAT POE DID FOR A LIVING HERE] who lived in [PUT
WHERE POE LIVED HERE] during [PUT THE YEARS OR THE CENTURY WHEN POE
WAS ALIVE HERE]. Edgar Allen Poe had a chaotic life full of heartbreak and weird,
strange events, which affected his writing in poems like [PUT THE TITLE OF ONE OF
THE POE POEMS WE READ IN CLASS HERE] and [PUT THE TITLE OF THE OTHER
POE POEM WE READ IN CLASS HERE].
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EVIDENCE #1: (Support your claim with a quote, data, paraphrase, or other piece of evidence.)
Part 1: One event from Poe’s life that affected his writing was [DESCRIBE AN EVENT
FROM POE’S LIFE HERE]
Part 2: The influence from this event can be seen in these lines [PUT A QUOTE FROM
ANNABEL LEE OR THE RAVEN HERE] from [PUT THE POEM TITLE HERE]
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REASONING #1: (Analyze and explain how your evidence proves your claim, as well as interpreting your
evidence for the reader.)
This quote shows how Poe’s writing was affected by his life because [EXPLAIN HOW
THIS QUOTE SHOWS A CONNECTION BETWEEN POE’S LIFE AND HIS WRITING
HERE]
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EVIDENCE #2: (Support your claim with a quote, data, paraphrase, or other piece of evidence.)
Part 1: Another event from Poe’s life that affected his writing was [DESCRIBE AN EVENT
FROM POE’S LIFE HERE]
Part 2: The influence from this event can be seen in these lines [PUT A QUOTE FROM
ANNABEL LEE OR THE RAVEN HERE] from [PUT THE POEM TITLE HERE]
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REASONING #2: (Analyze and explain how your evidence proves your claim, as well as interpreting your
evidence for the reader.)
This quote shows how Poe’s writing was affected by his life because [EXPLAIN HOW
THIS QUOTE SHOWS A CONNECTION BETWEEN POE’S LIFE AND HIS WRITING
HERE]
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CONCLUSION: (Connect back to your CLAIM and sum it up.)
In conclusion, the effect of these events [RE-STATE THE TWO EVENTS YOU CHOSE]
on Edgar Allan Poe’s life can be seen in his poem(s) [ADD THE TITLE OR TITLES OF
THE POEMS YOUR QUOTES WERE FROM.]
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