Lesson 6 Activity 6.1 Ben Franklin- It’s time for a timeline

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Image of Benjamin Franklin

“If you would persuade, you must appeal to interest rather than intellect.” Ben Franklin^[2]

Summary: The Voice of American authors was very logical in their thinking. Unlike the Puritans who valued heaven more than earth, these authors were always thinking about how to improve themselves and the world around them.

Learning Target:

I can theorize why someone would write routinely over a certain period of time.

Essential Question:

Why might someone write routinely over a certain period of time?

STEP 1

 Scroll down in the article and begin reading where the section header reads: Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790).

• US Department of State: Kathryn VanSpanckeren’s Outline of American Literature: “Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790)”

STEP 2:

Create a timeline of the major events in Franklin’s bio.

STEP 3:

Link: EDSITEment!: “Launchpad: Benjamin Franklin’s Virtues”

Read the “Who was Benjamin Franklin” section on the webpage. It summarizes a portion of Franklin’s autobiography.

STEP 4:  

Answer each bulleted prompt:^[3]

• What is a “Project”?
• What is “Moral Perfection”? Is this a reasonable goal for a human being? How does Franklin’s aspiration relate to Jesus’ teaching, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48)?
• What is bold about this project? What assumptions about human nature, human (original) sinfulness, and human perfectibility are implied?
• What is arduous about this project? Why is it so hard?
• Do you think you could ever attain a state of moral perfection? Why or why not? Is it still worth seeking, even if you can never grasp it fully?

STEP 5:

Upload and embed your timeline to your e-Portfolio. Include a 2-3 paragraph reflection with the artifact. Be sure your artifact reflection answers the following question: Why would someone routinely write over a period of time?

STEP 6:

Add your responses from STEP 4 to your ePortfolio Journal.