11AP English
Response to Paine, Jefferson or Lincoln
Choose ONE of the following prompts. All essays should be typed, double spaced, approximately 2-3
pages in length. Submit your writing to turnitin.com. 75 points.
1.
Paine. Paine’s writing was incredibly influential as it is estimated that everyone in the 13
colonies who was literate read Paine’s “Common Sense”; likewise, “The Crisis” had a large
impact on inspiring support for the Revolutionary War. In class, we studied Paine’s rhetorical
strategies and noted how he combined extremely emotional and at times manipulative
language with actual facts.
Assignment: Pick a topic that you care deeply about such as animal rights, the environment, gay
marriage, etc. Write your own version of “The Crisis.” Your first line should be: “These are the
times that try men’s souls…” and go on from there with your essay. I am looking for:
 Imitation of Paine’s rhetorical strategies and style of writing.
 Development of ideas on your topic.
 Paper is well written and shows that you care deeply about the issue.
2.
Jefferson. Consider the five parts of “The Declaration of Independence”
 Introduction: consists of a single, lengthy, periodic sentence.
 Preamble: Single paragraph, sets up the philosophical ideas behind the need for
revolution.
 Indictment of King George: list of grievances.
 Complaints against British people.
 Conclusion.
Assignment: Pick something that you would like to declare yourself independent from. For
example, are you ready to declare your independence from high school, from the City of Malibu,
or from some other group or aspect of your life? If so, write your own Declaration of
Independence. Imitate the five parts of the Declaration listed above, but substitute your own
reasoning and ideas for each part. I am looking for:



3.
A recreation of the different parts of the Declaration, but with a new subject
matter and different wording.
Much use of parallelism, as in the original.
Paper is well written, and maintains the same tone of the original.
Jefferson.
Alternate Assignment: Use your knowledge of history and your view of America today as a
guide. Consider the famous lines of the preamble: “We hold these truths to be self-evident…”
(the second paragraph of the Declaration.) Apply these ideas to a time in American history
and/or today. Consider slavery and the disenfranchisement of various groups of voters, and
think about ongoing inequalities in our society today. To what extent have these words truly
served to guide America? To what extent SHOULD these words form the basis of our union?
Develop your essay by quoting from the preamble, and explaining the meaning behind the
various ideas. Also connect these ideas to specific examples from history or modern day.
4.
Lincoln, “Second Inaugural Address”
Assignment: (from a 2002 AP prompt is based on Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address.) In his
Second Inaugural Address, given one month before the end of the Civil War, United States
President Abraham Lincoln surprised his audience—which expected a lengthy speech on politics,
slavery, and states’ rights—with a short speech in which he contemplated the effects of the Civil
War and offered his vision for the future of the nation. Read the address carefully. Then write
an essay in which you analyze the rhetorical strategies President Lincoln used to achieve his
purpose. Support your analysis with specific references to the text.
5. Alternate Assignment: In a few months President Obama will be giving his own Second
Inaugural Address. While we fortunately have not been through a Civil War, we are today a very
divided nation. There seems to be a deep separation between Republicans and Democrats;
politicians have not been able to work together effectively to help solve important issues; and
ordinary people also seem very divided by political viewpoint. Imagine that you have been hired
by President Obama to write the speech that he will deliver on his inauguration. How will you
try to unite the nation? What specific events from recent history would you refer to? Would
you blame anyone for the current situation in our nation? Write a draft of President Obama’s
Second Inaugural Address.