Declaration of Independence Assignments | Essay Help Services

– 3-4 pages, typed (essays less than 3 pages cannot score more than an 75%)
– 1-inch margins all around
– Times New Roman font, 12-point
– Double-spaced, with only one space between the title and the first sentence
– Name and section number placed in the document “header” (top right)
– Page numbers in the bottom right corner
– Your essay must have the following elements:

Introduction, including a clear thesis statement
Body paragraphs with clear topic sentences and evidence taken from the course
lectures, video worksheets, and course texts that directly support your thesis
See “Essay Organization” and “Rubric” documents posted on Canvas for
specific guidance on topic sentences and essay organization.
Conclusion

– Parenthetical citations: (Constructing the American Past), p. 321), (Lecture #14), etc.
– Absolutely NO Wikipedia or other outside sources for this assignment.
– You must work on this assignment alone. You CANNOT collaborate with classmates.
– If you are struggling, even a little bit, with the writing process I strongly encourage you
to make an appointment to meet with a writing tutor at Writing Center. Examples of “writing process” issues include: organizing your thoughts on paper, coming up with a good introduction or conclusion, writing solid topic or transition sentences, etc. I will offer 10 points extra credit for visiting the Writing Center to improve your paper (simply staple the confirmation slip to your essay).

Essay Prompt: The second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence (1776) begins: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” Based on your reading of the available evidence, is it fair to say that by 1850 most Americans enjoyed equality and the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? Why or why not?

What Makes a Good Thesis Statement?:
A good thesis statement is not a simple statement of opinion, but rather an argument made in response to existing knowledge and supported by evidence. In other words, a good thesis statement starts with what someone else says, and goes on to confirm, challenge, or add to their argument.

How to Approach Writing the Essay, Step-By-Step:

Step 1. Identify your “They Say”- Lucky for you, I just gave you the “They Say”! It’s the beginning of the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence.

Step 2. Develop Your “I Say”- – Review the course materials (lecture notes, textbook, video worksheets, etc.) relevant to answering the prompt. Come up with a 1-2 sentence summary of a good answer to the prompt. This will be the “I Say” part of your thesis.

Step 3. Combine Steps 1 and 2 to Create Your Thesis Statement-

Model #1 (Confirmation): In the Declaration of Independence, America’s founding fathers wrote that “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” Indeed, by 1850, most Americans enjoyed equality and the rights mentioned in the Declaration. This resulted largely from [major examples a, b, c, etc.]

Model #2 (Challenge): In the Declaration of Independence, America’s founding fathers wrote that “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” However, by 1850, few Americans enjoyed equality or the rights mentioned in the Declaration. This reality resulted largely from [major examples x, y, z, etc.]

Model #3 (Confirmation + Challenge): In the Declaration of Independence, America’s founding fathers wrote that “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” Many Americans, such as [groups 1, 2, etc.], enjoyed equality and the rights mentioned in the Declaration by 1850. These groups’ good fortune resulted from [major examples a, b, c, etc.]. However, many other Americans, such as [groups 3, 4, etc.] did not enjoy equality or the freedoms mentioned in the Declaration. Their misfortune resulted from [major examples x, y, z, etc.].