Eulogies

1. Eulogies A Look at Tom’s “Funeral”

2. Essential Questions • How do my actions affect other’s opinions of me? • Can I write to a particular style and tone?

3. Objectives • Read CH. 17 - Analyze how a text makes connections among and distinctions between individuals, ideas, or events (RL.3) • Read Sample Eulogies - Analyze in detail the structure of a specific paragraph in a text, including the role of particular sentences in developing and refining a key concept (RI.5) • Write a Eulogy - Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (W.1) • Peer Edit - Establish and maintain a formal style. (W.1.d)

4. Focus Questions • What was said about Tom at his funeral? How is this different from what you would expect? • What do people tend to remember the most about people after they have passed away? • How do we remember famous people from history? • What do you want people to remember about you?

5. How to Write a Eulogy For a Historical Figure

6. Step 1 • Decide on the tone. • How serious or lighthearted do you want the eulogy to be? A good eulogy need not be uniformly somber, just appropriate. Some eulogy-writers take a serious approach, others are bold enough to add humor. Used cautiously, humor can help convey the personality of the deceased and illustrate some of his or her endearing qualities. The tone can also be partially determined by the way the deceased passed away. If you're giving a eulogy about a teenager who met an untimely death, then your tone would be more serious than it would if you were giving a eulogy about a grandparent who happily lived to see his ninetieth birthday. For our purposes, a SERIOUS tone is most appropriate.

7. Step 2 • Consider the audience. • Write the eulogy with the deceased's family and loved ones in mind. Dwell on the positive, but be honest. If the person was difficult or inordinately negative, avoid talking about that or allude to it gently, as in "He had his demons, which were a constant battle." Make sure you don't say anything that would offend, shock, or confuse the audience. For example, don't make any jokes or comments about the deceased that would be a mystery to the majority of the crowd.

8. Step 3 • Briefly introduce yourself. • Even if most people in the audience know you, just state your name and give a few words that describe your relationship to the deceased. If it's a really small crowd, you can start with, "For anybody who doesn't know me..." or something that shows that while most people do know you, it's still important to introduce yourself. If you're related to the deceased, describe how; if not, say a few words about how and when you met.

9. Step 4 • State the basic information about the deceased. • Though your eulogy doesn't have to read like an obituary or give all of the basic information about the life of the deceased, you should touch on a few key points, such as what his family life was like, what his career achievements were, and what hobbies and interests mattered the most to him. You can find a way of mentioning this information while praising or remembering the deceased. Make sure you say something specific about the family life of the deceased -- this would be very important to his family.

10. Step 5 • Use specific examples to describe the deceased. • Avoid reciting a list of qualities that the person possesses. Instead, mention a quality and then illustrate it with a story. It is the stories that bring the person--and that quality--to life. Write down as many memories of your own as you can. Look for a common theme that unites your ideas, and try to illustrate this theme through specific examples. If the deceased is remembered for being kind, talk about the time he helped a homeless man get back on his feet. • If the deceased is known for being a prankster, • mention his famous April Fool's prank. • Pretend that a stranger is listening to your eulogy. Would he get a good sense of the person you're describing without ever meeting him just from your words?

11. Step 6 • Be concise and well-organized. • Outline the eulogy before you start writing. Brainstorm all the possible areas (personality traits, interests, biographical info) to talk about and write them down. When you're ready to write, cover each area in a logical order. Give the eulogy a beginning, middle, and end. Avoid rambling or, conversely, speaking down to people. You may have a sterling vocabulary, but dumb it down for the masses just this once.The average eulogy is about 3-5 minutes long. That should be enough for you to give a meaningful speech about the deceased. Remember that less is more; you don't want to try the patience of the audience during such a sad occasion.

12. Choose Your Person • You man choose any of these historical figures. Remember that you need to know enough about them to talk about their: • Accomplishments • Family Life • Personality • Interests • George Washington • John Adams • Thomas Jefferson • Alexander Hamilton • Andrew Jackson • John Quincy Adam

13. To DO: • Analyze the example you have been given for the correct structure. • Highlight & label each element. • Follow the steps in your notes to help you write your eulogy.