Introduction
At a meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 4th, 1776, Thomas Jefferson and four colleagues presented to the Second Continental Congress a document setting out why the Thirteen American Colonies held themselves to be “absolved from all allegiance to the British crown”. It marked the birth of the United States of America, grudgingly recognised by King George III in 1783.
WHEN in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth the separate and equal station to which the laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
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. That, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that, whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.
Extract
Précis
In 1776, the Thirteen Colonies of North America announced that henceforward they owed no allegiance to the British crown. In a Declaration of Independence, they explained that the task of government was to protect life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and that when government harmed these things the people were justified in taking matters into their own hands. (59 / 60 words)
In 1776, the Thirteen Colonies of North America announced that henceforward they owed no allegiance to the British crown. In a Declaration of Independence, they explained that the task of government was to protect life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and that when government harmed these things the people were justified in taking matters into their own hands.
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: although, just, or, otherwise, since, until, whereas, who.
Archive
Word Games
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 Power. Their. Whenever.
2 Just. Right. Shall.
3 Have. One. People.
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.)
Statements, Questions and Commands Find in Think and Speak
Use each word below in a sentence. Try to include at least one statement, one question and one command among your sentences. Note that some verbs make awkward or meaningless words of command, e.g. need, happen.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Band. 2 Respect. 3 Station. 4 Man. 5 Seem. 6 Effect. 7 Require. 8 End. 9 Power.
Variations: 1. use a minimum of seven words for each sentence 2. include negatives, e.g. isn’t, don’t, never 3. use the words ‘must’ to make commands 4. compose a short dialogue containing all three kinds of sentence: one statement, one question and one command
Subject and Object Find in Think and Speak
Use each word below in two sentences, first as the subject of a verb, and then as the object of a verb. It doesn’t have to be the same verb: some verbs can’t be paired with an object (e.g. arrive, happen), so watch out for these.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. God. 2. End. 3. Government. 4. Self. 5. Nature. 6. Cause. 7. Safety. 8. Equal. 9. Earth.
Variations: 1.use your noun in the plural (e.g. cat → cats), if possible. 2.give one of your sentences a future aspect (e.g. will, going to). 3.write sentences using negatives such as not, neither, nobody and never.
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
Your Words ()
If you like what I’m doing here on Clay Lane, from time to time you could buy me a coffee.
Buy Me a Coffee is a crowdfunding website, used by over a million people. It is designed to help content creators like me make a living from their work. ‘Buy Me a Coffee’ prides itself on its security, and there is no need to register.
,_by_John_Trumbull.jpg){kind=link}