Persuasive Writing Activity

Rhetoric, or the art of persuasion, is a hallmark of the American Democracy. It reflects the nation's trust in the common man, and it encourages written and oral dialogue among citizens as they collectively determine the best course for the country. It might be argued, then, that beyond the 3 R's, there is no more important subject for U.S. students to master.

Founding Father Benjamin Franklin, is perhaps the one American writer who can reach through the ages to make persuasive writing as accessible and meaningful for students today as it was for his 18th century readers. In one of his most persuasive and entertaining essays, Rules for Reducing a Great Empire to a Small One Franklin reveals just how persuasive humor and humble intellect can be.

Using Frankin's Essay as a Writing Model

Materials: One copy of Rules for Reducing a Great Empire to a Small One for each student, a large piece of butcher paper for each small group, markers

Content Areas: Persuasive Writing, English Literature, Rhetoric, American history

Activities:

1. As a Class

• ay aloud with the class, pointing out vocabulary in context as you read (Vocabulary List: empire, sage, simpleton, commerce, dominion, zealous, whigs, stockjobbers, solicitor, oppressor, disaffected, proctors, insolent, requisition, benevolence, flout)

2. In Student Groups

• Distribute a question sheet with the following questions to each group of students: 1) Who is Benjamin Franklin's audience? 2) How would you describe Franklin's tone in this piece? 3) Explain how irony in the title would have caught the attention of the essay's intended audience. 4) Why does Franklin compare the British Empire to a "great cake"? 5) According to Franklin, what role do economics play in the growing tension between the British Empire and the American colonies? 6) Why does Franklin suggest that the British Empire acts "like the husband who uses his wife ill from suspicion, you may in time convert your suspicions into realities"? What does this mean? 7) Is Franklin's satire more effective than a more straight forward persuasive piece might have been? Why or why not? 8) What words does Franklin use that have emotional appeal? 9) Provide examples of Franklin's use of logic. 10) Why does Franklin compare the British Empire to the Roman Empire?
• discuss student answers.

3. As a Class: discuss group answers.

4. Individual Assignment: Pretend that you are King George or a member of the British parliament. Write a persuasive response essay in the same style as Rules for Reducing a Great Empire to a Small One in which you respond to Franklin's satiric essay.

Click here for a thematic link to Benjamin Franklin and Colonial History.

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