Warm-Up
 This semester we are exploring two foundational
questions explored in early American writing. What
is an American? And How should American act?
 Based on the autobiographical narrative “The
Interesting Life of Olaudah Equiano,” how would
Olaudah Equiano answer these questions?
 Use evidence and examples found in the narrative.
During Today’s Lesson
 Learn about the process of drafting the Declaration
of Independence and how it shows and attempt to
answer the questions “What is an American? How
should an American act?”
 Identify the purpose, tone, and stylistic devices
within Thomas Jefferson’s political treatise against
the British crown.
EARLY AMERICAN WRITING
 Sermons
 Autobiographies
 Political Documents
 Journals/Diaries
Tone: the attitude a writer takes toward the
subject of a work
 Objective (Informational) v. Subjective (Emotional)
Tone is dependent on diction (word choice) and style.
Style: The distinctive way in which a writer uses language. This includes
sentence length, complexity, syntax, figurative language and word choice.
Formal v. Infomal
PARALLELISM
 A.K.A. Parallel Structure
 The repetition of words, phrases, clauses, or
sentences.
 For example, in The Declaration of Independence
Jefferson cites truths that are “self-evident,” he
begins each clause with “that.” He also begins a long
series of paragraphs with the words “He has.”
Jefferson’s use of parallelism creates a stately
rhythm or cadence. Listen for this as you read.
Predict: What is the tone? style?
 “Prudence, indeed will dictate that governments long established
should not be changed for light and transient causes...”
 … “Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and
such is not the necessity which constrains them to expunge their
former systems of government.”
 … “He has abdicated government here withdrawing his governors
and declaring us out of his allegiance and protection.”
 “He has incited treasonable insurrections of our fellow citizens,
with the allurements of forfeiture and confiscation of our
property.”
 “These facts have given the last stab to agonizing affection, and
manly spirit bids us to renounce forever these unfeeling
brethren.”
Predict: What is the tone?
 “We will tread it apart from them and acquiesce in the
necessity which denounces our eternal separation.”
STRUCTURE
INTRODUCTION: Introduces the purpose and central argument of the
document.
THE PREAMBLE: Jefferson begins with a statement of premises and
assumptions.
THE CASE AGAINST KING GEORGE III: The author then lists evidence to
support those premises in the series of claims beginning with "He" (in
reference to King George of England). One of these claims, dealing with
disruption of the legal system, is further supported with evidence in a
secondary series of claims, beginning with "for.”
ATTEMPTS AT REDRESS: He follows this list of complaints against the King
with a list of attempts by the colonists to find redress and make the
relationship work out.
CONCLUSION: Having asserted its premises and itemized its evidence, the
Declaration then proceeds to draw its conclusion, introduced by that
clearest of conclusion indicators, "therefore."
By completing the SOAPS,
students practice
Identifying
the purpose
and
historical
context.
“When in the course…”
Find parallelism in the
preamble:
“We hold these truths…”
Find an example of parallelism:
Evidence against King George:
Find an example of loaded
words which express tone:
Evidence of colony’s attempts
to make the relationship work
out: Find an example of loaded
words which express tone:
Conclusion: “We therefore…”
NOTES: As you read…
 What truths does Jefferson consider self-evident?
That 1) all men were created equal with certain unalienable rights
which include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness 2) That
governments were made through people’s consent to protect
these rights 3) If they don’t, the same people have the right to
abolish it.
What is the main argument of the Declaration of
independence?
The colonies must declare their independence from King George.
 What are key facts that support this main argument?
King George has abused his powers by…
a. Making laws and taxing without consent.
b. Committing acts of war against them.
c. Taking away their rights to due process. Prosecuting
without proper court procedures.
What are some examples of parallel
structure and loaded words?
Today’s Objective:
 EXPLAIN the purpose of the Declaration of
Independence and identify how Jefferson uses parallel
structure and loaded words to communicate his ideas.
 YOU WILL SHOW YOU CAN DO THIS BY:
 Writing a summary of the text.
 Answering Selection Questions
 Completing the Dialectical Journal.
ANTICIPATION GUIDE
THINK WRITE PAIR SHARE
_____ 1. Thomas Jefferson’s father was a modest farmer.
_____ 2. Thomas Jefferson did not have a former education and was
only trained to care for his family痴 small farm.
_____ 3. After attending the College of William and Mary, Jefferson
became a lawyer and member of the Virginia House of Burgesses.
_____ 4. Jefferson’s political career included being governor of
Virginia, minister to France, secretary of state, vice president, and
president of the United States.
_____5. Jeffersonian democracy included the belief in creating a
strong central federal government that told the states what to do.
_____6. The main idea of the Declaration of Independence is that the
King of England should allow free press and freedom of religion in the
colonies.
_____7. Jefferson supports his main argument by making a case
against the institution of slavery.
_____8. Jefferson emphasizes that the colonists want guidance from
the British Parliament.
____9. According to the Declaration of Independence, colonists are at
odds with their current government because the whole notion of a king
is upsetting to them.
_____10. The line which states we mutually pledge to each other our
lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor is an example of parallelism.
_____11. In parallelism, conjunctions are always linked by
conjunctions.
_____ 12. Jefferson did not care that Congress deleted passages
from his original draft.
_____ 13. Jefferson believes it is important to show how the original
version of the Declaration of Independence was amended because he
is not sure which is better.
_____ 14. Every kind of liberty we enjoy should be balanced with
responsibility. Why or why not?
______15. Jefferson should have fought to keep his indictment
against the slave trade in the Declaration of Independence to show
consistency in his ideas of equality and freedom. Why or why not?
______16. Freedom can bring both gains and losses. Why or why
not?
SELECTION QUESTIONS
Strategy: LINES OF COMMUNICATION
3. What changes made in the text show a desire not to
make an absolute break with the English people? (p.
102) Why do you think it would be important that the
new nation maintain its consaguinity or close kinship,
with English people.
4. Find the section on slave trade that was omitted (p.
102). According to Jefferson, what political concerns
prompted the omission of this passage (p. 97).
5. Find two passages in the Declaration that use
parallelism. What is the effect of the parallel structure
on the idea of the passage.
6. Find at least five details in the document that use
loaded words to cite factual support. What emotions
are revealed in the use of charged language?
DIALECTICAL JOURNAL
“We hold these truths to be selfevident, that all men are created
equal, that they are endowed by their
Creator with certain unalienable
Rights, that among these are Life,
Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
(p. 98)
But when a long train of abuses
and usurpations, pursuing
invariably the same Object
evinces a design to reduce them
under absolute Despotism, it is
their right, it is their duty, to throw
off such Government, and to
provide new Guards for their
future security.
In every stage of these Oppressions
We have Petitioned for Redress in the
most humble terms: Our repeated
Petitions have been answered only by
repeated injury. A Prince, whose
character is thus marked by every act
which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to
be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our
British brethren. We have warned them from
time to time of attempts by their legislature to
extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us.
We have reminded them of the circumstances
of our emigration and settlement here. We
have appealed to their native justice and
magnanimity, and we have conjured them by
the ties of our common kindred to disavow
these usurpations, which would inevitably
interrupt our connections and correspondence.