Group Project on Thomas Jefferson’s Life and Times
This group project requires you to complete the following TASKS below. After you
complete each task, hand in your work for feedback that will allow you to revise and edit
your work in a timely fashion.
TASK 1 (20 points) Rewrite the first, second and last paragraphs of The Declaration
of Independence into simple English that a 12-year-old child can understand. Use
shorter sentences, simpler vocabulary and sentence structure but be sure to preserve the
meaning of the original ideas. Avoid using pronouns. Sign your names at the end of
your document’s final draft.
TASK 2 (20 points) Use your answers to the 25 questions based on the film Thomas
Jefferson, Philosopher of Freedom to write a biography of Jefferson. You may use
other sources to answer the questions. Use appropriate transitional words and phrases to
connect ideas and organize the information into distinct paragraphs. Be sure to write in
parentheses ( ) the number of the question you are answering before each answer.
TASK 3 (25 points) Using your answers to the questions given out in class, write a fiveparagraph summary of the essays “Jefferson Is America and America Is Jefferson” by
David K. Shipler and “The Sublime Oxymoron” by Charles Krauthammer. Each
summary should present in your own words the central idea of each essay as well as four
or five other main points. Then in a one-page analysis, compare and contrast the two
authors’ point of view regarding Jefferson’s contributions and contradictions. Be sure
to emphasize in your comparison what each author sees as both the positive and negative
aspects of Jefferson’s contributions and contradictions.
TASK 4 (25 points) Using your answers to the questions given out in class, write a sixparagraph summary of the essays “The Argonauts of 1776” by David McCullough and
“Flawed Founders” by Stephen Ambrose. Each summary should present in your own
words the central idea of each essay as well as four or five other main points. Then in a
one-page analysis, compare and contrast the two authors’ point of view regarding the
legacy of America’s founding fathers. Be sure to emphasize in your comparison what
each author sees as the positive and negative aspects of the founding fathers’ legacy to
this nation.
TASK 5 (10 points) Include an appropriate introduction and conclusion to your project.
Your conclusion should highlight how working on this project contributed to your
understanding of Jefferson, the founding fathers and American society. You may also
mention any questions you still have about the topics you have studied as well as topics
you would like to explore in more detail in the future.