Voices of Change

Essay Instructions:

In this assignment, consider the actual words or works of an important spokesperson for their times. After reading that speaker’s words, use the provided template to write a two-page response that shares your thoughts about the work in question, the historical events happening during the time the work was produced, and the relevance of the work in the present day. Completing this assignment will give you real insight into the thoughts and feelings of an actual participant in historical events. You will also begin to see how learning from past perspectives helps us better understand the issues we face in our own time period.
Topic Choice: Frederick Douglass’s speech, "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?"
1. Listen to the speech, as read by actor James Earl Jones. (https://www(dot)youtube(dot)com/watch?v=O0baE_CtU08)
2. Read the text of the speech. (https://masshumanities(dot)org/files/programs/douglass/speech_abridged_med.pdf)
3. For background, read about The Emancipation Proclamation in the National Archives. (https://www(dot)archives(dot)gov/exhibits/featured-documents/emancipation-proclamation)
4. Read additional background on Fredrick Douglass. (https://www(dot)nps(dot)gov/frdo/learn/historyculture/frederickdouglass.htm)
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Voices of Change Assignment (Template)
Introduction
In your introduction section, complete each step listed in the following bullets. Your answer should be 1–2 paragraphs in length:
• Identify the author.
• Provide a short overview of the author’s life. Make sure the biographical details you discuss relate to the work you are discussing.
• Identify the speech or writing you will be talking about in this paper.
BACKGROUND
In your background section, complete each step listed in the following bullets. Your answer should be 1–2 paragraphs in length:
• Describe the historical events (also known as context) that were occurring at the time that the author created the work.
• Discuss your thoughts on how the historical events may have lead the author to create the work.
EVIDENCE
In your evidence section, complete each step listed in the following bullets. Your answer should be 1–2 paragraphs in length.
• Explain the main point of the work you chose.
• Identify the most important example the author uses to support the main point.
• Provide sufficient information, examples, and details to support your general claim or main idea.
DISCUSSION
In your discussion section, complete each step listed in the following bullets. Your answer should be one paragraph in length.
• Explain who the author was trying to reach with the work (also known as the audience).
• Identify what the author was trying to convince the audience to believe or do.
• Provide sufficient information, examples, and details to support your general claim or main idea.
CONCLUSION
In your conclusion section, complete each step listed in the following bullets. Your answer should be 1–2 paragraphs in length.
• Explain how the author’s words relate to our situation today.
• Discuss whether you believe any of the author’s statements about race relations, political equality, or social equality remain true today, and why.

Essay Sample Content Preview:

Voices of Change
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Voices of Change
Voices of Change represents people whose lives impacted society by shaping conversations and world views and contributing to significant historical changes. This paper focuses on Frederick Douglass's speech, an American who lived in the nineteenth century during the slavehood and civil war. He was born a slave, served as one, but eventually escaped with help from his first wife. He then joined the abolitionist movement, where he was recognized as a great orator and leader (Frederick Douglass, 2018). During this period, he delivered the speech titled: "what to the slave is the fourth of July."
Fredrick delivered the speech a few years before the civil war in America that abolished slavery in America. During the time, several forums spoke against slavery, including the Rochester lady antislavery society to whom he was addressing and the abolitionist movement to which he was a member. The author loathed the existence of slavery during his time. He delivered this memorable speech as America celebrated the 76th Independence Day from their British colonizers.
The irony of this event was a key trigger to Fredrick's passion as to him freedom was still an obsolete idea. The idea that the country was celebrating freedom while men like him were denied the same rights was aggravating. At the time, it was commonly acknowledged that slavery was wrong. America was known to criticize the international trade of slaves and criticize European countries that still enslaved people. It, however, acted blindly to the internal slave trade that was happening within its borders. The obvious conflicting realities of the time, therefore, serve as the greatest motivation for this speech. The author outrightly questions the moral compass of the Americans. He cannot reconcile how people who vow to such ...

Updated on January 26, 2024

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Voices of Change

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