While working at The New Yorker in 1943, E. B. White (author of Charlotte’s Webb and many other
works) was asked by the Writer’s War Board to write a “definition” of Democracy for the public to
enhance the war effort. This response was first published in The New Yorker in 1943.
We received a letter from the Writers’ War Board the other day asking for a statement on “The
Meaning of Democracy.” It is presumably our duty to comply with such a request, and it is certainly our
pleasure.
Surely the Board knows what democracy is. It is the line that forms on the right. It is the don’t in
don’t shove. It is the hole in the stuffed shirt through which the sawdust slowly trickles; it is the dent in
the high hat. Democracy is the recurrent suspicion that more than half of the people are right more
than half the time. It is the feeling of privacy in the voting booths, the feeling of communion in the
libraries, the feeling of vitality everywhere. Democracy is the letter to the editor. Democracy is the
score at the beginning of the ninth. It is an idea which hasn’t been disproved yet, a song the words of
which have not gone bad. It’s the mustard on the hot dog and the cream in the rationed coffee.
Democracy is a request from a War Board, in the middle of the morning in the middle of a war,
wanting to know what democracy is.
2 Point Constructed Response
English MSL Practice Item
The question you read next will require you to answer in writing.
1. Write your answer on separate paper.
2. Be sure to write your name on each page.
SCORE SHEET
SAMPLE SCORE _________
Student
My Score
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Explain how the author’s choice of structure contributes to his
meaning. Include one relevant example to support your
answer.
Rubric
2-Point Constructed Response
English MSL Practice Item
Score 0
No response or the response does not address the prompt
Score 1
Fulfills only 1 of 2 requirements of a level 2 performance
Score 2
Clearly and coherently explains how the author’s choice of
structure contributes to his meaning; Supports answer with
one relevant example from the text.
Practice Student Answer
Last line of the first paragraph is written as if the author is willing and maybe even honored, but
when this crafty writer starts the next paragraph with “Surely,” this reader said hold on just one
minute! The order of this information packed a backhanded compliment.
Student Response 1
The author means to give a definition of democracy by giving specific examples. He puts
these in an interesting order to keep people reading.
Student Response 2
The 2 “Democracy is…” sentences in the very middle slow the reader’s pace down after
galloping through other examples. It’s like he’s saying, Watch out. Something important’s
about to happen.
Student Response 3
Putting the “mustard on the hot dog” after “the beginning of the ninth” is smart. People
would wonder where the hot dog came from.
Student Response 4
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“It is…It is… It is” sentences at the beginning of the examples
gentle rhythm
democracy // pleasant sense
the War Board is happy
Student Response 5
The author uses a lot of structure in this story. He wants to make people think. He likes
democracy, but he doesn’t want people too have to easy of a definition in thier head.
Student Response 6
In this piece the general organizational structure of the entire response is the single element
that creates the power and ultimate sarcastic tone. The beginning has an element of honor,
the middle supports the greatness of democracy and the task requested, the end is the
twisting of the figurative knife to those seated delicately in the safety of a meeting room “in
the middle of the morning in the middle of a war.”
Student Response 7
He tells them his purpose in the beginning which is what my teacher taught me to do so I
bet he had a really really good teacher!
Student Response 8
He gives lots of examples to make his point. He talks about the good things it does for us
and lists them like hot dogs and coffee
Student Response 9
Idea disproved YET
Song of words WHICH HAVE NOT GONE BAD
Cream in the RATIONED COFFEE
Student Response 10
Sentences are short in the beginning and move quickly then the sentences are longer to
make the reader hear the words…the beginning reminds me of slogans and jingles they roll
off your tongue, but if it’s important, it should marinate