Common Sense and the American Revolution: Lectures & Activities

Common Sense and the American Revolution

Workshop 2: Lectures & Activities

Activity Two:
Interpretations of Common Sense

For this activity, create a song, rap, dramatic poem, short play, or other interpretation that brings Paine's message to a contemporary audience. Presentations should run about two to five minutes and should focus on two to three main themes, arguments, or points from Paine's writing. Use the questions below to prepare for this activity. If possible, find an audience to present your work to.

Note: This activity has two sets of questions: those that relate to specific documents and appear on each document page and more general, "big picture" questions listed below. You may begin with general or specific questions depending upon your preference.

*Consider These Questions*
•	What are Paine's philosophical, underlying, and universalized arguments for independence?
•	What is Paine's approach? Consider his use of language, his use of emotional versus logical arguments, and his intended audience.

"The people read Common Sense. It opened the debate on independence. But when they came to their own conclusion, they didn't come at it just like Paine did. They had their own arguments, their own experience that they brought into it."
— Pauline Maier

Primary Sources: Documents

(Click here for information on using primary source documents)

Common Sense, January 10, 1776 HTML Version | PDF Version (35 pages)

Common Sense, a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine, makes a case, in accessible and stirring language, for independence.

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