1. Declaration of Independence
Setting up the Essay
Declaration of Independence

2. Prompt Language Arts/ POD final Essay
All responses should be one page typed, double spaced in point font.
In a letter to Henry Lee, on May 8, 1825, Thomas Jefferson wrote the following:
This was the object of the Declaration of Independence. Not to find out new principles, or new arguments, never before thought of, not merely to say things which had never been said before, but to place before mankind the common sense of the subject, in terms so plain and firm as to command their assent, and to justify ourselves in the independent stand we are compelled to take.
Write an essay that explains the SPECIFIC purpose of the three sections of the Declaration of Independence. Include references to the following:
1. The purpose of the preamble (How does the Preamble justify the D of I?)
2. The categories of grievances against the king with an example of each. (How can you categorize the grievances? Refer to the Digital History worksheet)
3. The inclusion of the Olive Branch Petition and the result (Why was this mentioned?)

3. Requirements Heading (double space) Upper left corner: Name
POD/Language Arts
Ankrom, White

4. Format
Titled (Do not call it the Declaration of Independence: that’s been done!)
10-12 point font
words
Addresses all points

5. Introductory Paragraph
Write a summary that introduces your audience to your topic. In the thesis statement (last sentence of the introductory paragraph), address the preamble, the grievances, and the Olive Branch Petition.

6. Example
On June 7, 1776, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Richard Henry Lee voiced a resolution that the United States ought to be completely free of England's influence, and that all political ties between the two countries should be dissolved. Congress agreed and began plans to publish a formal declaration of independence and appointed a committee of five members to draft the declaration. The document had three important parts that justified the separation. The preamble set up the argument, the grievances against the king supported the argument, and the allusion to the Olive Branch showed that attempts had been made to work together but had failed.

7. Body and Conclusion
Follow your introduction with well – constructed paragraphs with EVIDENCE to support your ideas.
We suggest a paragraph to support each of the points on the prompt.
No need to repeat for the conclusion. One sentence that draws conclusions in sufficient.