Primary sources/documents are letters, newspapers, laws, or other forms of communication that were composed during the time period in which they occurred. For example, when studying the American Revolution, an example of a primary document would be the Declaration of Independence. You are only to write a summary
on one (1) document (located below in the FILES uploaded). Follow the writing guidelines attached in the file!
~The following questions should be addressed when composing your essays:
1. Who wrote the document and when was it written?
2. Who was the intended audience?
Not every document is meant for the general public, so please be mindful when addressing the intended audience
3. What was the purpose of the document?
4. What was one of the most important part or most important line from the document?
(Don’t simply describe the quote/line, but provide it to show engagement with the selected source)
To assist in composing your essays the following represents a short student response to the primary document of
the Declaration of Independence: (This is an example)
Thomas Jefferson, the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, wrote his draft of this document in 1776.
Although the declaration was for the whole world, Jefferson’s main audience was the king of England, George III.
Jefferson’s purpose was to announce to the world that the thirteen colonies were free and independent from Great
Britain and that these thirteen colonies were forming a new country called the United States. The document is
divided into different parts: the preamble or introduction, a list of grievances against the king, and a conclusion.
Several of these grievances were later addressed in the Constitution and in the Bill of Rights – such as, not allowing
soldiers to be quartered in homes without the consent of the homeowner and the right to have a trial by jury. Other
notable grievances included Britain’s taxation policies with colonial representation in Parliament. Probably the most
memorable line from the Declaration is, “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.” It is ironic that when Jefferson wrote of liberty, he was a slave holder.
Summaries should be at least 1-1.5 pages excluding headings and written according to the course writing and style guide
Citations & bibliographies are NOT needed since students are only discussing a single source
*Please look at the the writing guidelines uploaded in the files below. Follow the writing guidelines on how to write thispaper.