Free Write 10/14/11 From the time that we are old enough to do things for ourselves we crave independence. We want the freedom to try new things and do them in our own way. In what ways do you desire to be independent? Would you like to break free form any particular traditions or habits? Write ½ page answering this…you will be turning it in You have 8 minutes.

Welcome to The Revolutionary Era meline.htm

“The Revolutionary War contributed more to enlighten the world, and diffuse a spirit of freedom and liberty among mankind, than any other human event…that ever preceded it.” ~ Thomas Paine The selections we will read focus on the attempts of people to break free from old traditions and do things their own way.

Background– pg §Setting the Scene §History of the Time §Life of the Time §Literature of the Time §Novels of the Time §Language of the Time

The Age of Reason §Writers of this period believed that they could manage themselves and their societies without depending upon authorities or past traditions. §Reason thrived on freedom -- freedom of speech, freedom from arbitrary rulers, freedom to experiment, freedom to question existing laws and institutions.

Contrast with Puritans §Concerned with life here on earth. §Adherents of deism -- a philosophical movement that stressed the perfectibility of man through reason. By the free use of reason, human beings could progress. §Tended to write on science, ethics, or government, rather than religion.

Revolutionary War Literature §Thousands of pamphlets, essays, songs, poems, and speeches. §Puritan writing was private and religious. Revolutionary literature was public and political. §Helped to establish the identity of our country. §Published in newspapers and tacked up around city, placed under doors, and read aloud.

Changes in America §New country and new government. §Arts flourished partly because people were inspired to express their feelings and ideas. §American cities grew and population doubled. §First native American artists, dancers, poets, writers flourished.

Authors of the American Revolution

Benjamin Franklin of 17 children Printer, inventor, statesman, writer Inventor of the lightning rod, bifocal eyeglasses, Franklin stove. His experiments with lightning and electricity give him a permanent place in the history of science. Helped to edit the Declaration of Independence

Patrick Henry §Orator and patriot of American Revolution §Speech on liberty inspired Americans to support the Revolution §Leader in the movement to add the Bill of Rights §First governor of Virginia

Thomas Paine §Wrote Common Sense in Sold 100,000 copies in three months. §After a stay in Europe, became unpopular in America and died poverty and neglect.

Thomas Jefferson §Renaissance Man of American history -- lawmaker, writer, scientist, architect, musician, inventor. §Third president of the United States. §Doubled size of country with Louisiana Purchase.

Abigail Adams §Wife of second president, John Adams, and mother of five. §One of the great letter writers. §Early advocate of women’s rights.

Remember Persuasion?  Persuasion - a form of speaking or writing that aims to convince an audience to think or act a certain way. Effective writers appeal to reader's emotions and intellect.

Techniques Used in Persuasive Writing  Rhetorical Question - a question that does not call for an answer because the answer is obvious.  Metaphor - compares two unlike things.  Loaded Language - emotionally charged words.  Deductive Reasoning - uses facts to lead the reader to a probable conclusion; from general to specific

Persuasive Techniques Continued  Inductive Reasoning- from specific to general  Allusion - indirect reference to a person, place, event, or work with which the author believes the reader will be familiar. Allusions provide the reader or listener with a deeper understanding of the main ideas.

Persuasive Techniques Continued  Memorable Line - catchy words or phrase designed to stick with the reader or listener.  Repetition - repeats words or phrases for emphasis.  Parallelism - expresses ideas of equal importance in phrases or sentences that are worded in a similar way.

Persuasive Techniques Continued  Anecdote - a brief story that illustrates a point.  Analogy - extended comparison of two things that have certain similarities. The comparison makes the less familiar object more clear.  Paraphrase - restate someone else's ideas in simple words.  Aphorism- A short, memorable statement that expresses some truth or observation about life

Journal In Poor Richard’s Almanack (what we are about to read), Benjamin Franklin provides numerous witty sayings or words to live by. What are some familiar sayings or words to live by that you know or have heard? Which of these are the most significant to you?

Objectives §To read and analyze the effect of word choices and humor in Franklin’ aphorisms

Why it’s called Poor Richard… §Franklin borrowed the name "Richard Saunders" from the seventeenth-century author of the Apollo Anglicanus, a popular London almanac which continued to be published throughout the eighteenth century. Franklin created the Poor Richard persona based in part on Jonathan Swift's pseudonymous character, "Isaac Bickerstaff." In a series of three letters in 1708 and 1709, known as the Bickerstaff papers, "Bickerstaff" predicted the imminent death of astrologer and almanac maker John Partridge. Franklin's Poor Richard, like Bickerstaff, claimed to be a philomath and astrologer and, like Bickerstaff, predicted the deaths of actual astrologers who wrote traditional almanacs. In the early editions of Poor Richard's Almanack, predicting and falsely reporting the deaths of these astrologers—much to their dismay—was something of a running joke. However, Franklin's endearing character of "Poor" Richard Saunders, along with his wife Bridget, was ultimately used to frame (if comically) what was intended as a serious resource that people would buy year after year. To that end, the satirical edge of Swift's character is largely absent in Poor Richard. Richard was presented as distinct from Franklin himself, occasionally referring to the latter as his printer. [8]Jonathan SwiftIsaac BickerstaffJohn Partridgephilomathastrologer [8] §In later editions, the original Richard Saunders character gradually disappeared, replaced by a Poor Richard, who largely stood in for Franklin and his own practical scientific and business perspectives. By 1758, the original character was even more distant from the practical advice and proverbs of the almanac, which Franklin presented as coming from "Father Abraham," who in turn got his sayings from Poor Richard. [9] [9]

f rom Poor Richard’s Almanack §There are more than 600 proverbs from by Ben Franklin §This is why it is “from” §Pgs §Background: Colonial Almanacs §Questions: pg 136- # 5,6,7,8. ANSWER IN A COMPLETE SENTENCE

Journal Explore some of the liberties you enjoy and perhaps take for granted. Think about people who might be denied these same liberties. Would you risk your life to preserve any one of your freedoms? Why or why not?

Objectives §To read and analyze a speech about breaking free §To determine a writer’s purpose

Speech to the Second Virginia Convention §Page §Building background §Terms guide and review of terms §Add in hyperbole: obvious and intentional exaggeration; an extravagant statement or figure of speech not intended to be taken literally, as “to wait an eternity.” §Speech copy on my website §Time to listen

Finish up your term sheet! §You will have 7 minutes to finish up the work from yesterday §One person from each pair switch to the other side of the room. Go over what you each found adding in anything that you would like for your sheet. Three minutes! §Answer the parking lot question on the next slide…park it, turn in your chart, and have a seat!

Parking LOT Put yourself in the place of the colonists. Do you think you would feel so strongly about freedom? Why or why not?

Journal Write about a crisis that someone you know has faced. What were the details of the crisis? How did the person handle the crisis? Was this tactic effective?

Objectives §To read and analyze a persuasive essay about the colonists’ need to break free from Great Britain §To evaluate the impact of Thomas Paine’s emotional appeals

from The Crisis No. 1 §Page §Building Background §Questions: 5 & 10 (go together), 9 §Then, choose a particular phrase and write ½ a page that explains why this phrase was memorable to you and how it ties into your world today. §Word doc with this essay on website

Homework Personal writing: Look over the crisis that you wrote about in your journal. Write or type a one (FULL) page persuasive letter that would motivate that person to solve the crisis by following your advice. Be sure to least three persuasive techniques that you found in Paine’s essay, such as loaded language, rhetorical questions, repetition, etc. Due MONDAY 10/24/2011 in class Grading is simple: 1. Full page- 50 pts (written or typed- 12 pt, TNR font) 2. Each persuasive technique: 10 pts each 3. Is the letter persuasive? 20 points

Random Around the room discussion Read this: Just how much freedom should an individual or a county have? What, if anything, should limit freedom? Think about it, and you may be answering! Put your name on the yellow piece of paper…

Objectives §To read and analyze a historic document on independence §To identify words with strong connotations

Declaration of Independence §Get a highlighter and a pen/pencil! §You will be listening to a web seminar on the DOI. You have a copy of this document and will need to make notes on it! This seminar breaks down the document for easy understanding. § §After the seminar, you will read the DOI and answer # 2,5,6,8 on pg 173 in your book! You may do them on the back page of your DOI

Parking Lot Connotation assignment pg 173

Journal Write about a time when you had difficulty adjusting to a new situation, or when a place or situation did not live up to your expectations. How did you feel? How did you adjust to the situation? **Please turn in your questions TODAY from Crisis No.1. Should have been turned in with your hw and collect all outbox papers**

Objectives §To read a letter on the theme of adjusting to a new situation §To analyze the use of description in the letter

Images & Background

Letter to Her Daughter §Building Background §While reading: Highlight details from the selection to visualize what the president’s house was like when the Adams family moved in. §After reading: Compare the conveniences of today’s residences with those of Adams’s time. Write a short response on your letter. §Questions: 3,4,7,8 on page 186 §PDF document of this letter on my website

Homework Looking back at your journal, write a letter to someone who is moving to the area where you live (don’t know anyone? Make them up). Try to present a picture of your region that will create realistic expectations. Describe the pros and cons of living in your area. Include pictures, either your own or from the internet, about your area, one page typed (dbl space, TNR 12 pt font) or written! Due Thursday, 10/27