Isaac's Storm

America could proudly boast of many life-changing advancements around the turn of the century, giving rise to the idea that America was extremely powerful, perhaps invincible. Given the prevailing attitude of the time, how much blame, if any, do you believe Isaac should bear for the death and devastation caused by the storm? Consider these points as you reflect on the text.

• Did Isaac fall prey to the same overconfidence shared by others during this era?
• Given his expertise in the field of atmospheric sciences, are his decisions inexcusable?

Teaching Suggestion: It might be helpful to engage this prompt as a class discussion before students attempt the written response.

Differentiation Suggestion: For students who would benefit from assistance with analyzing or seeing both sides of an argument, it might be useful to supply a T-chart with the idea that Isaac should not be judged for his decisions on one side and the idea that he should be judged on the other side. Students may wish to take notes using this or a similar chart during class discussion.