‘Writing the Declaration of Independence’, as imagined by Philadelphia artist Jean Leon Gerome Ferris (1863–1930) in 1900. It shows (from left to right) Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson at Jefferson’s lodgings on the corner of Seventh and High in Philadelphia, reviewing a draft of the Declaration of Independence that would be ratified on July 4th, 1776. Franklin’s carefully honed skills as a writer were never dedicated to a more noble or important task. He was, of course, much more than a statesman and a literary man. He established one of the world’s first fire brigades, Philadelphia’s Union Fire Company, in 1736; laboured for civic improvements such as clean, well-lit streets; and took a keen interest in scientific researches as wide-ranging as electricity, refrigeration and oceanography.
Therefore I took some of the tales and turned them into verse; and, after a time, when I had pretty well forgotten the prose, turned them back again. I also sometimes jumbled my collections of hints into confusion, and after some weeks endeavored to reduce them into the best order, before I began to form the full sentences and compleat the paper. This was to teach me method in the arrangement of thoughts.
By comparing my work afterwards with the original, I discovered many faults and amended them; but I sometimes had the pleasure of fancying that, in certain particulars of small import, I had been lucky enough to improve the method or the language, and this encouraged me to think I might possibly in time come to be a tolerable English writer, of which I was extreamly ambitious.
Original spelling
From ‘The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin’ (1868) by Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), edited by John Bigelow (1817-1911).
Questions for Critics
1. What is the author aiming to achieve in writing this?
2. Note any words, devices or turns of phrase that strike you. How do they help the author communicate his ideas more effectively?
3. What impression does this passage make on you? How might you put that impression into words?
Based on The English Critic (1939) by NL Clay, drawing on The New Criticism: A Lecture Delivered at Columbia University, March 9, 1910, by J. E. Spingarn, Professor of Comparative Literature in Columbia University, USA.
Précis
To enlarge his vocabulary, Franklin turned selected essays into verse, and after a few days turned his verse back into prose. He also shuffled his notes on each piece, forcing himself to think about the flow of ideas. In this way, he learnt to appreciate the authors’ good writing, and sometimes (he dared hope) even improve on it. (58 / 60 words)
To enlarge his vocabulary, Franklin turned selected essays into verse, and after a few days turned his verse back into prose. He also shuffled his notes on each piece, forcing himself to think about the flow of ideas. In this way, he learnt to appreciate the authors’ good writing, and sometimes (he dared hope) even improve on it.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: despite, just, may, must, otherwise, ought, unless, whether.
Archive
Word Games
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Constant. Language. Possible.
2 Also. Before. Full.
3 Buy. Enough. Look.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Verb and Noun Find in Think and Speak
Many words can serve as noun or verb depending on context: see if you can prove this with the examples below. Nouns go well with words such as the/a, or his/her; verbs go well after I/you/he etc..
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Make. 2 Suit. 3 Wish. 4 Sentence. 5 Sound. 6 Use. 7 Hand. 8 Work. 9 Order.
Variations: 1.if possible, use your noun in the plural, e.g. cat → cats. 2.use your verb in a past form, e.g. go → went. 3.use your noun in a sentence with one of these words: any, enough, fewer, less, no, some.
Add Vowels Find in Think and Speak
Make words by adding vowels to each group of consonants below. You may add as many vowels as you like before, between or after the consonants, but you may not add any consonants or change the order of those you have been given. See if you can beat our target of common words.
dlng (5)
dealing. dialing. doling. dueling. idling.
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