American Literature Reading and Writing Workshop
Reading and Writing Workshop for The American Revolution and Early Nationalism Unit
Workshop Goals:
Week 1: Reading Workshop
Focus: Rhetorical Strategies and Argumentation
Day 1: Introduction to Revolutionary Literature
Week 2: Writing Workshop
Focus: Argumentative and Expository Writing
Day 6: Structuring an Argument
This workshop builds analytical reading and persuasive writing skills while emphasizing historical context.
Workshop Goals:
- Develop close reading and analytical writing skills using primary texts from the Revolutionary period.
- Understand rhetorical strategies in persuasive writing.
- Engage in writing activities that apply historical ideas to modern contexts.
- Common Sense by Thomas Paine (excerpts)
- The Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson
- The Federalist Papers (excerpts from No. 10 and No. 51) by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay
- Student journals or notebooks
Week 1: Reading Workshop
Focus: Rhetorical Strategies and Argumentation
Day 1: Introduction to Revolutionary Literature
- Discuss the purpose of Revolutionary texts and how they influenced early American identity.
- Introduce key rhetorical appeals: ethos, pathos, logos.
- Read an excerpt from Common Sense and annotate for persuasive techniques.
- Exit Ticket: Identify one powerful phrase from the reading and explain its impact.
- Read and annotate the preamble and key grievances.
- Identify parallelism, repetition, and emotional appeals.
- Group Discussion: How does Jefferson justify independence?
- Short Writing: Summarize Jeffersons argument in your own words.
- Read excerpts from The Federalist Papers No. 10 or No. 51.
- Discuss the dangers of factions and the need for checks and balances.
- Partner Activity: Compare Hamiltons and Madisons views with the ideas in Common Sense.
- Exit Ticket: Write one question you still have about these texts.
- Students prepare discussion questions based on the weeks readings.
- Seminar Discussion: How do these texts define freedom and government?
- Reflection Journal: What lessons from these texts still apply today?
- Students write a persuasive letter as if they were living in 1776, arguing for or against independence.
- Peer review and revision workshop.
- Share letters in small groups.
Week 2: Writing Workshop
Focus: Argumentative and Expository Writing
Day 6: Structuring an Argument
- Review thesis statements and evidence-based arguments.
- Examine a model essay analyzing rhetorical techniques in Common Sense.
- Students draft thesis statements for their essays.
- Students create outlines using textual evidence.
- Peer feedback on organization and clarity.
- Focused writing time with teacher check-ins.
- Students highlight and label rhetorical devices in their drafts.
- Exchange drafts for peer feedback using a rubric.
- Revise based on feedback, focusing on clarity and argument development.
- Submit final essays.
- Write a short reflection on what they learned about Revolutionary rhetoric.
This workshop builds analytical reading and persuasive writing skills while emphasizing historical context.