What the Declaration of Independence Can Teach You About Effective Writing
The Declaration was an exercise in rhetoric: verbal persuasion.
He had to persuade at least half a dozen different audiences. Until a student identifies all of them, he will not understand the Declaration. Yet this is rarely taught, even at the upper division college level.
You have to know what he was trying to do. Only then can you appreciate how he did it.
This is part of my American history course for the Ron Paul Curriculum. You can order it here: