Baltimore County Public Schools
Arts
Office of Secondary English Language
Analysis of Devices in a Seminal Document
Directions: Identify the Founding Father and the document that you reference. Using a seminal document
written by the Founding Father, find examples of each device in the text. You may use a portion of the
quotation if is it lengthy, but be sure that the portion reflects the indicated device.
Founding Father: _________________________ Seminal Document: ______________________________
Device
Syntax
Example/ Quotation from Text with
citation
“When, in the course of human events… a
decent respect to the opinions of mankind
requires that they should declare the causes
which impel them to the separation” (Holt,
141).
How does this device effectively advance
the purpose of the document?
This long sentence strengthens the impact of the
argument and expresses a cause-effect
relationship—it links the natural rights of all
people and the need for independence to the
writing of the Declaration. Expressing these
ideas in one long sentence shows how
inextricably linked they are.
Diction
Grade 11 English Language Arts
14.1
Summer 2012
Baltimore County Public Schools
Arts
Device
Office of Secondary English Language
Example/ Quotation from Text with
page number/ line number
How does this device effectively advance
the purpose of the Declaration?
Tone (state your tone
word)
Rhetorical Devices
(repetition, parallel
structure, rhetorical
questions, allusions,
alliteration, etc.)
So what?
1. What is the overall purpose of the document you analyzed?
2. What is the relevance of this document in the life of the Founding Father?
3. What is the relevance of this document to America today?
Grade 11 English Language Arts
14.2
Summer 2012