Name:
English III
Text: ​
The Declaration of Independence ​
by Thomas Jefferson
Date:
Culminating Task Graphic Organizer
Step #1 Understanding the Culminating Task
Culminating Task:
Write an evaluation​
of how the ​
effectiveness​
of the Declaration as a speech compares to its effectiveness as a written document. Cite evidence from
the document to support your ideas, and consider your experiences as a speaker, a listener, and a reader.
Directions​
: Identify the verb (action) and the noun (Product). Then, rewrite the task in your own words.
Action
Write an evaluation (Literary analysis)
Noun
Effectiveness of Thomas Jefferson’s ​
tone​
,​
diction​
,​
syntax​
and ​
rhetorical features
Rewrite the prompt in your own words:
Step #2​
: Identify Thomas Jefferson’s Argument and collect evidence to support its effectiveness. (​
What did the author do and how did he do
it?)
2A What is Thomas Jefferson’s Thesis statement? Refer to page 112
Choose only​
3​
of the nouns listed above. Find evidence from the text. Explain how this noun supports Thomas Jefferson’s argument. How
do these nouns (Literary Devices) convince readers to believe Thomas Jefferson?
Noun
(Literary
Device)
Tone
diction
syntax
Rhetorical
features
Repetition
Evidence from the text
Effect on Reader
Parallelis
m
Step #3:​
Write your thesis statement
​
➢ 3A Write your own thesis statement based on the evidence you have collected and your opinion of how that evidence was used to
support Thomas Jefferson’s Argument.
Step #4:​
Check your thesis statement!
➢ 3B Thesis statement Checklist
Questions to
ask as you
check your
thesis.
The importance of each check
point
Yes
or No
If ​
yes​
, explain how. If ​
no​
address your misconception and provide the
corrected information in the box below.
1. Does my thesis
make a specific
claim on a
topic?
The thesis statement is the central
claim of your paper, so it must be
a complete sentence that explains
the argument or purpose of your
paper. It is not a general topic or
question; rather, it takes a stand
on the topic at hand.
What is your claim?
2. Does my thesis
offer a
roadmap for
the reader,
containing
organizational
cues as to how
to arrange the
various parts
of my
argument in
the pages that
follow?
Your thesis should not only state
your argument but offer a
roadmap for your readers, as to
how the paper as a whole will
proceed. This will often require
one or two sentences beyond the
single sentence that states your
thesis.
What are the subtopics you will be analyzing? Why are they significant to
the effectiveness of Thomas Jefferson’s argument?
1.
3.
Including the keywords of your
analysis in your thesis statement
allows your reader to better
understand the important points
of your argument in the following
paragraphs.
Defining your keywords also helps
to keep you focused on your
argument as you write the body of
your paper.
Does my thesis
contain the
keywords or
central idea
that focuses
my argument?
2.
3.
What are the key words that explain the effectiveness of
Thomas Jefferson’s argument? What does Thomas Jefferson do that helps
his readers understand his claim?
4.
Is my thesis
focused
enough or
complex
enough to
satisfy the
page length of
the
assignment?
Remember: Part of your task in
writing a paper is not only to state
what you will argue, but also to
make the argument itself. If you
cannot complete the argument in
the space required, then you must
narrow the scope of your topic.
Similarly, if your thesis is too
narrow, you will have to
brainstorm ways to broaden your
argument.
Do you have at least three subtopics that explain what Thomas Jefferson
does in his speech that makes his writing so effective? What are they? Can
you write a paragraph for each? Give one supporting detail for each
subtopic.
1. (subtopic)
Supporting detail:
2. (subtopic)
Supporting detail
3. (subtopic)
Supporting detail
5
.
Can I support
my thesis with
the material
available?
If you cannot support your claim,
then you cannot make an
argument. If your thesis cannot be
supported with the material
available in your text/s, you will
have to reframe your argument in
provable terms.
Subtopic #1:
Evidence:
Pg #
Line Number
Subtopic #1:
Evidence:
Pg #
Line Number
Subtopic #1:
Evidence:
Pg #
Line Number
6.
Does my thesis
really reflect
my final
argument?
If your thesis statement does not
accurately express your claim,
your readers will be confused. The
tricky part is that often in the
course of writing a paper, our
ideas change or we modify our
opinions on the topic. This means
that it is vitally important to
continuously check that your
thesis statement is the
most accurate expression of your
argument possible.
When you’re finished with a draft,
revise your thesis so that it
reflects what you’re really saying,
or revise the rest of the paper so
that it proves your thesis.
If ​
yes​
, explain how. If ​
no​
address your misconception and provide the
corrected information in the box below.