compare and contrast

1. Activate Background Knowledge (5–7 minutes)

• Briefly introduce who George E. Haynes was and the general time period.

• Ask students:

  • “What challenges do you think African-American workers faced during this time?”

  • “Why might letters be important historical documents?”

2. First Read – Understanding the Gist (8–10 minutes)

• Have students silently read both letters.

• Students should underline key ideas and unfamiliar words.

• Clarify difficult vocabulary as a class.

3. Second Read – Compare & Contrast Focus (10–15 minutes)

• Students reread the letters using a compare-and-contrast organizer or guided notes.

• They should focus on:

  • Purpose of each letter

  • Intended audience

  • Problems discussed

  • Suggested solutions

4. Written Response (10–15 minutes)

• Students write a short comparative response using text evidence.

• Remind students to include:

  • At least two similarities

  • At least two differences

  • State which document you feel is more important and why it was written.