from America's Constitution: A Biography

Akhil Reed Amar

DIRECTIONS: Complete the following items after you have read the text.

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RI.11-12.3 Analyze a complex set of ideas or sequence of events and explain how specific individuals, ideas, or events interact and develop over the course of the text.

1. Reread paragraphs 11 and 12 of the excerpt from America's Constitution: A Biography. Explain the point that the author is making about other nations and civilizations. How are the ideas in these two paragraphs connected and why are they important to this essay?

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RI.11-12.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze how an author uses and refines the meaning of a key term or terms over the course of a text (e.g., how Madison defines faction in Federalist No. 10).

1. (a) Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings.

Read the three excerpts from the text, below. Identify whether the underlined words or phrases are examples of figurative, connotative, or technical language. Then, determine the meaning of the language in each excerpt.

Excerpt 1: "All eyes then turned to New York, where Anti-Federalists initially held a commanding lead..."

Excerpt 2: "Several of the leaders who had come to Philadelphia quit the conclave in disgust, and others...refused to endorse the final script."

Excerpt 3: "...states generally allowed a broad group of Americans to serve as ratifying-convention delegates."

(b) Analyze how an author uses and refines the meaning of a key term or terms over the course of a text (e.g., how Madison defines faction in Federalist No. 10).

The term "ratification" is used throughout the excerpt from America's Constitution: A Biography. Explain how that term meant different things in different states.

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RI.11-12.5 Analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of the structure an author uses in his or her exposition or argument, including whether the structure makes points clear, convincing, and engaging.

1. Review paragraphs 1-7 of the excerpt from America's Constitution: A Biography to determine whether the overall structure is chronological, random, or arranged by topic. Then explain why this structure makes points clear, convincing, and engaging.

Author's Choices: Rhetoric

DIRECTIONS: Complete the following activity as either a written response or a group discussion.

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RI.11-12.6 Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text in which the rhetoric is particularly effective, analyzing how style and content contribute to the power, persuasiveness, or beauty of the text.

1. Identify Amar's point of view (or perspective) about the ratification of the Constitution in the excerpt from America's Constitution: A Biography Then, explain his repeated use of analogies and how this style of rhetoric contributes to the power of the essay.

Use these guidelines in your writing or discussion.

• Describe how Amar views the ratification of the Constitution.
• Analyze the analogy comparing the Preamble to a wedding vow/contract.
• Explain how this analogy adds to the power of the essay.
• Analyze the analogy comparing the word fiat to "let there be light" in Genesis.
• Explain how this analogy adds to the power of the essay.
• Analyze the analogy comparing the Constitution to Benjamin Franklin's various inventions.
• Explain how this analogy adds to the power of the essay.

TIP FOR WRITTEN RESPONSE

Provide a clear statement of your main idea in your introduction.

TIP FOR DISCUSSION

Appoint a group leader to ensure that everyone participates in the discussion.

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