"The Declaration of Independence" - Discussion

Question 1

SOAPSTONE

Answer 1

• S: Jefferson, united states, educated, justified
• O: cusp of a revolution, knowing full well
• A: british crown/american people
• P: justify (argue for) american independence
• S: cataloging (listing), elevated language, parallelism
• TONE: powerful , scholarly, didactic

Question 2

focus: cataloging

Answer 2

• used to provide detailed lists
• provides lists of: ideas, facts, reasons
• benefits: author gains credibility, and argument appears more valid

Question 3

step 1

Answer 3

jefferson

Question 4

step 2

Answer 4

establishes

Question 5

step 3

Answer 5

the powerful, authoritative tone of the declaration

Question 6

step 4

Answer 6

through highly elevated diction

Question 7

claim: the author employs a listing technique to convey that independent states must be allowed to use their god given rights

Answer 7

• “levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts”
• there are these rights: “levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts”

Question 8

claim: Jefferson uses personification as a call to arms against the tyrannical status quo

Answer 8

jefferson figuratively structures a call to action against a tyrannical status quo