The Berlin Wall, 1989

Worksheet Description

This worksheet is centered on the use of the ellipsis in the context of reporting and historical speeches. It presents a scenario where the student plays the role of a newspaper reporter who is tasked with covering a speech by U.S. President Ronald Reagan in front of the Berlin Wall in 1989. The worksheet provides excerpts from Reagan’s speech and a quote from Mikhail Gorbachev, with the instructions to shorten the quotations using an ellipsis without changing the fundamental message. It simulates a real-life editing task, giving students a chance to apply ellipses to significant political rhetoric.

The educational goal of this worksheet is to teach students how to effectively use the ellipsis in a journalistic setting. By practicing with notable historical quotes, students learn to identify non-essential parts of a speech that can be omitted without losing the main points being conveyed. This task promotes the development of concise writing and critical thinking about what information is crucial for readers to understand the core message of a speech. Moreover, the exercise connects students with a pivotal moment in history, enhancing their learning experience.