Personal Observation
Writing an eyewitness account

Have a volunteer read aloud the eyewitness account below. Ask the class whether Moses Smith was moved by what he had seen. What devices does Smith use as a writer, such as attention to detail and empathy, to convey his emotions? Then ask if they have ever seen an event, whether in real life or on television or in a movie, that moved them deeply. Ask them to write an account of that event, then analyze it to determine what devices they used to convey powerful feelings.

Have on Hand- 1 copy of the passage written by Moses Smith used in “Eyewitness Account”