Lesson Planet
Search educational resources
  • Sign In Try It Free
  • AI Teacher Tools
    • Discover Resources Search reviewed educational resources by keyword, subject, grade, type, and more
    • Curriculum Manager (My Content) Manage saved and uploaded resources and folders To Access the Curriculum Manager Sign In or Join Now
    • Browse Resource Directory Browse educational resources by subject and topic
    • Curriculum Calendar Explore curriculum resources by date
    • Lesson Planning Articles Timely and inspiring teaching ideas that you can apply in your classroom
    • Our Story
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Testimonials
    • Contact Us
  • Pricing
  • School Access
    • Your school or district can sign up for Lesson Planet — with no cost to teachers
      Learn More
  • Sign In
  • Try It Free

Hi, what do you want to do?

Create a lesson plan
Create a lesson plan
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Find a teaching resource
Find a teaching resource
Writing About Informational Text The Berlin Wall AssessmentWriting About Informational Text The Berlin Wall Assessment
Publisher
Fluence Learning
Resource Details
Curator Rating
Educator Rating
Not yet Rated
Grade
9th - 10th
Subjects
English Language Arts
4 more...
Resource Types
Assessments
6 more...
Audiences
For Teacher Use
1 more...
Duration
2 days
Instructional Strategies
Direct Instruction
1 more...
Technology
Internet Access
Usage Permissions
Creative Commons
BY-SA: 4.0
cc
Assessment

Writing About Informational Text The Berlin Wall

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet
This Writing About Informational Text The Berlin Wall assessment also includes:
  • Teacher Reference
  • Rubric
  • Join to access all included materials

On June 26, 1963 President John F. Kennedy delivered his famous "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech close to the Berlin Wall at the Rudolph Wilde Platz. On June 12, 1987 President Ronald Reagan Delivered his famous "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall" speech at the Brandenburg Gate. As a writing assessment, ninth and tenth graders read excerpts from these speeches and then craft an essay in which they explain whether or not Kennedy's and Reagan's speeches have a common purpose and use similar rhetorical devices.

44 Views 44 Downloads
CCSS: Designed

Concepts

the cold war, informational texts, informative writing, the berlin wall, germany, the presidency of john f. kennedy, communism, democracy, rhetoric, rhetorical devices, author's purpose, ronald reagan, mikhail gorbachev, the soviet union

Additional Tags

english language arts

Instructional Ideas

  • After class members have examined Kennedy's and Reagan's speeches, share the YouTube videos of both speeches

Classroom Considerations

  • Presumes writers have previously studied rhetorical devices and have experience crafting an essay in which they compare similar texts

Pros

  • The 50-page packet includes a teacher's guide for the assessment, excerpts from Kennedy's and Reagan's speeches, discussion questions, graphic organizers, the writing prompt, and a rubric

Cons

  • None

Common Core

RI.7.7 RI.9-10.1 RI.9-10.2 RI.9-10.6 RI.9-10.8 RI.9-10.9 W.9-10.2.a W.9-10.9.a SL.9-10.1.a

See similar resources:

Worksheet

John F. Kennedy: Remarks in the Rudolph Wilde Platz, Berlin

Polk Bros Foundation
“Ich bin ein Berliner.” Here’s the full text of John F. Kennedy’s famous address delivered to the people of Berlin on June 26, 1963. The resource could be used as part of a study of Kennedy’s presidency, of rhetorical devices, or as...
9th - 12th English Language Arts
Lesson Plan

Rhetorical Devices in Political Speeches

Prestwick House
Have you ever watched a political speech and felt your heart beat a little faster, and your opinion either solidify or begin to slightly change? Rhetorical devices can be a strong tool in an effective and powerful speech. A short...
9th - 10th English Language Arts
CCSS: Designed
Unit Plan

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: John F. Kennedy's Remarks, Berlin [Pdf]

Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
"John F. Kennedy: Remarks in the Rudolph Wilde Platz, Berlin" is a one page persuasive speech delivered by JFK on June 26, 1963. In it he commended West Germany in its efforts to have a democratic government and berated the Communists...
9th - 10th English Language Arts
Lesson Plan

Author’s Purpose in Reagan’s “Tear Down This Wall” Speech

Prestwick House
President Ronald Reagan's "Tear Down This Wall" speech, delivered on June 12, 1987 before the Berlin Wall, provides class members with an opportunity to examine three key aspects of informational text: author bias, the use of facts and...
9th - 10th English Language Arts
CCSS: Designed
Lesson Plan

Analyzing the Rhetoric of JFK’s Inaugural Address

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum
“And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your. country.” Did you know that John Kenneth Galbraith, Adlai Stevenson, and Theodore Sorensen helped John F. Kennedy craft his 1961...
9th - 12th English Language Arts
Primary

American Rhetoric: Ronald Reagan: Remarks at the Brandenburg Gate

American Rhetoric
This is Ronald Reagan's "Tear Down the Wall" speech delivered on June 12, 1987, at the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin. It is offered in YouTube video, mp3 audio, and text. [4:52]
9th - 10th English Language Arts
Handout

Common Lit: Text Sets: Influential Speeches

CommonLit
This is a collection of 47 Grade-Leveled texts (6-12) on the topic Influential Speeches. What makes a great speech, and what makes a great speech memorable? Study some of the most influential speeches in history and learn how they...
9th - 10th English Language Arts
CCSS: Adaptable
Unit Plan

Ga Virtual Learning: Contemporary Nonfiction: Jfk Speech

Georgia Department of Education
This lesson focuses on John F. Kennedy's speech, "We Choose to go to the Moon," delivered at Rice University on September 12, 1962. It features links to JFK's biography and Wikipedia entry, the National Geographic: "Moon 101" video, the...
9th - 10th English Language Arts
Unit Plan

Ga Virtual Learning: Contemporary Literature: Rhetorical Landscape: Rhetoric

Georgia Department of Education
This lesson focuses on rhetoric; it defines it, discusses rhetorical devices, and audience appeals. It includes a student assignment to read "Tear Down This Wall" a speech by Ronald Reagan and then use the comment feature in Microsoft...
9th - 10th English Language Arts
Primary

American Rhetoric: John F. Kennedy: "Ich Bin Ein Berliner" (I Am a 'Berliner')

American Rhetoric
This is the text, audio, and video [5:11] of John F. Kennedy's speech "Ich bin ein Berliner" (I am a 'Berliner'] delivered on June 26, 1963, in West Berlin, Germany.
9th - 10th English Language Arts
Try It Free
© 1999-2026 Learning Explorer, Inc.
Teacher Lesson Plans, Worksheets and Resources

Sign up for the Lesson Planet Monthly Newsletter

Open Educational Resources (OER)

  • Health
  • Language Arts
  • Languages
  • Math
  • Physical Education
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Special Education
  • Visual and Performing Arts
View All Lesson Plans

Discover Resources

  • Our Review Process
  • How it Works
  • How to Search
  • Create a Collection

Manage Curriculum

  • Edit a Collection
  • Assign to Students
  • Manage My Content
Contact Us Site Map Privacy Policy Terms of Use