Write your own Declaration Assignment
Complaints! Complaints! Both The Declaration of
Independence and the Declaration of the Rights of
Man and Citizen was created in an atmosphere of
complaints. In fact, a list of grievances comprises
the longest section of the Declaration of
Independence; however, the source of the
document's power is its firm philosophic foundation.
Like the Declaration of the Rights of Man and
Citizen, both documents capture the ideals of the
Englightenment. There are moments when all of us
are more eager to express what's wrong than we are
to think critically about the problem and possible
solutions. It's important to understand the
complaints of both the colonists and the French
citizenry as one step in a process involving careful
deliberation and attempts to redress grievances and
the issues with King and French royalty. WHO
makes the rules they don't like, WHO decides if they
are fair or not, HOW does one get them changed,
WHAT does it mean to be independent from the
rules, and finally, HOW does a group of people
declare that they will no longer follow the rules?

To whom would you send your complaints? Why? What reasons would you give for your
decision to write out your complaints? (Preamble)

What makes you think your complaints are worthwhile? Aren't there good reasons why
things are the way they are? Why should things as they are be changed? Would it be
possible to summarize the thinking behind your desire for change in a single sentence?
(statement of beliefs, or the thinking behind the complaints)

Is there anything in particular the reader should notice about your complaints? Is there
anything you need to keep in mind to make sure your audience understands and
appreciates your complaints? What kinds of events inspired your complaints? (the list of
complaints)

Have you already tried to make any changes in the treatment of young people? In what
way? (prior attempts to redress grievances)

Is it possible to say in a single sentence what it is you really want to happen? It would take
time to change the system to accommodate all of your complaints. What should happen
right away? (declaration of independence)

Who would be willing to sign his/her name to this list of complaints even if it were going to
be seen and read by many people? (the signatures)
For your assignment, you will select an Authority
Figure in your own life. Your task will be to create
your own Declaration where you will be seeking
independence from that authority figure or your
document will outline what your major issues are
with that Authority figure. You will then create a
document outlining your complaints and modeled
after the American Declaration of Independence
OR the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and
Citizen. Examine both documents and model your
own declaration after one.
The language you use in your document should be
comparable to the type of language used in either
Declarations.
Feel free to use a fancy font to make your
document aesthetically pleasing and to give it a
more authentic feel.
DUE DATE: ___________________________
Marking Rubric
Criteria
Mark
Thinking and Inquiry – ideas demonstrate some creativity and
introspection, document demonstrates overall aim of Declaration clearly
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Knowledge and Understanding – final product clearly demonstrates
understanding of project, clear evidence of research presented.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Communication – vocabulary consistent with time period,
demonstrates authentic feel using variety of styles (i.e. font, paper,
etc), Proper mechanics used.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Application – document comparable to either Declaration of
Independence or Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen, Authority
figure clearly identified.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10