Central Idea: The Empire State Building

Analyzing Helen Keller's "A View from the Empire State Building"

By: Beatrice Ekesa

What have you learned about the Empire State building from the video?
Be prepared to write your response on the next slide.

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​Think-Pair-Share

Open Ended

State three things you have learned about the Empire State Building from the video?

Understanding Central Ideas and Supporting Details

• Central Idea: The main point or message an author wants to convey.

• Supporting Details: Specific information that helps develop and reinforce the central idea.

• Group Activity: Brainstorm - List possible central ideas based on the title of the essay's.

1. Identify the central idea of the historical speech or essay.

2.  Identify at least three supporting details that contribute to the development of the central idea.

3. Explain how each supporting detail reinforces or clarifies the central idea, using evidence from the text.

4. Provide direct quotes or specific references from the text to support their analysis.

​Success Criteria

Analyze how the author of a historical speech or essay uses supporting details to develop the central idea.

​Objective

Central Idea: The Empire State Building

• American author, political activist, and lecturer

• First deafblind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree.

• "A View from the Empire State Building"

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​Brief introduction to Helen Keller (1880-1968)

Central Ideas in Helen Keller's "View from the Empire State Building"

In her essay "View from the Empire State Building," Helen Keller shares her unique experiences of the world despite being unable to see. The central idea of her writing is how she perceives her surroundings using her other senses, like touch and hearing. Keller describes sensations that help her understand the environment around her. For example, she talks about feeling "the vibrations of the city" and how the "air currents" give her clues about the direction of the wind.