Declaration of Independence
by Thomas Jefferson
Page 238
Literature Quiz 3
• In your opinion, why is Jefferson writing this
document? What is it’s purpose?
Text Analysis: Argument
• An argument expresses an opinion on an issue
and supports it with reasons and evidence.
Beginning with a claim, the writer’s position
on the subject, an argument needs the
support of reasons and evidence to prove its
claim. A second argument anticipates
opposing views and provides
counterarguments or counterclaims as
evidence against them.
Reading Skill: Analyze Text Structure
• The Declaration of Independence has four
main sections:
• A preamble, or foreword, that announces the reason
for the document
• A declaration of people’s natural rights and relationship
to government
• A long list of complaints against George III, the British
king
• A conclusion that formally states America’s
Independence
Discuss
• Think of several situations in which an
individual or a group rebelled against a
perceived injustice.
• Evaluate the reasons for each rebellion, and
explain which ones you think are justified.
Discuss
• P. 240
• According to the document, what rights do
people have that cannot be taken away? From
whom did they receive these rights? Should
these rights be universal?
• How do governments get their power?
• When do people have the right to form a new
government?
Discuss
• P. 242
• What opposing claim does jefferson
anticipates in lines 15-22? What
counterargument does he make at the end of
this paragraph, and what does he say he is
about to do?
• Why might the list of complaints make up the
largest part of the four-part structure?
Discuss
• P. 243
• Text Structure: How does Jefferson’s use of
parallelism and paragraph structure contribute
to the persuasive impact of these lines?
• Why do the colonies oppose quartering the king’s
troops?
• Why do they oppose the king’s taxes?
• Why do they oppose parliament making laws for
them?
Discuss
• P. 244
• Reread lines 95-104
• Notice how Jefferson uses the first-person plural
pronouns we and our to identify with his
audience and to inspire unity of purpose.
Examine Jefferson's diction, or use of words. How
does the language of these closing paragraphs
support the writer’s inspirational tone or attitude
toward the idea of Independence?
Discuss
• P. 244
• What do they say about their ties to Great
Britain?
• What do the United colonies declare to the
world?
• What powers of government do they claim for
their independent state?
Discuss
• Which of the several reasons Jefferson gave as
justification for the rebellion do you consider
the most important or the most justified?
Recall & Clarify
• Recall: Name three complaints that the
colonists had against the king.
• Recall: What rights are specified in the
Declaration?
• Clarify: What does Jefferson say is the purpose
of government?
• Clarify: According to the Declaration, who
gives people their rights?
Evaluate Elements of an Argument
• Identify the major claim and the support given
in the Declaration. In your opinion, is the
support sufficient for the claim? Does it have
to be?
Historical Context
• Jefferson’s celebrated statement ”All men are
created equal” only applied to white men at
the time. How has the meaning of Jefferson’s
statement changed over time? How has it
stayed the same?
Vocabulary
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
Abdicate
Redress
Despotism
Impel
Mercenary
Perfidy
a. V. to give up
responsibility for
b. N. the correction of a
noun
c. N. government by a
ruler with unlimited
power
d. V. to drive forward; force
e. N. a professional soldier
hired to fight in a forgein
army
f. N. treachery
Homework
• Using the same parallelism method that The
Declaration of Independence employed, write
your reasons for rebelling against something.
1-page. Must use parallelism in the same
method taught in class. For example, “They
have . . . They have . . . For taking away . . . For
alienating . . . “ A minimum of eight reasons
must be given. Each reason must be, at
minimum, two lines.