The American Idea

The American Idea

Literary Analysis: Analytic and Interpretive Essays

In an analytic essay, a writer explores a subject by breaking it into parts. In an interpretive essay, a writer offers a view of the meaning or significance of an issue of general interest. The author of an interpretive essay introduces an issue and then addresses it, presenting his or her ideas and analysis based on his or her own ideas, values, and beliefs. A single essay may combine features of both types of essay.

Literary Analysis: Analytic and Interpretive Essays

Writers of analytic and interpretive essays might use any of the following types of appeals to support their points:

• Appeals to authority, which call on the opinions of experts or other respected people

• Appeals to reason, which call on logic

• Emotional appeals, which tap a reader’s fears, sympathy, or pride

• Appeals to shared values, which call on beliefs shared by many about what is good, right, or fair

Reading: Distinguish Between Fact and Opinion to Evaluate Writers’ Appeals

To evaluate a writer’s appeals, decide whether the writer makes a good case for his or her point of view. First, distinguish between fact and opinion to determine what kind of support a writer should provide. A statement of fact can be proven true or false. A statement of opinion expresses a belief or a viewpoint and should be supported by facts or logical reasoning.

Multiple Choice

What is the American idea?

• a call to freedom

• the American Revolution

• Jefferson’s and Adams’s debate

• a global superpower

Multiple Choice

According to White, who first put the American idea into words?

• Thomas Jefferson

• Benjamin Franklin

• John Adams

• Horace Greeley

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT one of the groups of people White says heard the call of the American idea?

• Irish

• Europeans

• Mexicans

• Chinese

Multiple Choice

According to White, how did “the freedom of the wilderness” affect American colonists?

• It inspired them to want more freedoms.

• It encouraged them to dislike government.

• It frightened them into obeying British rulers.

• It convinced them to hide from soldiers.

Multiple Choice

In “The American Idea,” White calls the American rebels “tough men fighting for a very tough idea.” This is meant to make modern Americans feel proud of those who fought for our freedom. What type of persuasive appeal is he using?

• appeal to authority

• appeal to reason

• emotional appeal

• appeal to shared values

Multiple Choice

Why does White describe the American idea as having “explosive power”?

• It was a spectacular failure but a good effort.

• It makes Americans seem prideful and angry.

• People have been arguing about it for many years.

• It inspired people all over the world to seek freedom.

Multiple Choice

White states his opinion that it was an idea, not a place, that gave birth to the United States. Which of the following is a FACT that he uses to support his opinion?

• The American people came from all over the world.

• The American idea had power undreamed of in 1776.

• The United States government is the best in the world.

• The American idea represented a promise to Jefferson.

Multiple Choice

Why does White say the American idea means different things to different people?

• to show that it is a growing and changing idea

• to avoid having to define the American idea clearly

• to prove that it is not a good basis for governing

• to show that it should guide the world’s conduct

Multiple Choice

What was Thomas Jefferson’s interpretation of the American idea?

• It was probably doomed to eventual failure.

• It was a call of freedom to the whole world.

• It was an expression of the need for independence.

• It was not a practical basis for a new government.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a FACT White included in “The American Idea”?

• Thomas Jefferson won his long debate with John Adams.

• Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence.

• Jefferson was the most intelligent of the nation’s early leaders.

• Jefferson could not imagine the reach of his call across the world.

Multiple Choice

What was unusual about the deaths of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams?

• They died on the same day—July 4, 1826.

• They both died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

• The Continental Congress had just met.

• They had finally decided to end their debate.

Multiple Choice

Is “The American Idea” an analytic essay or an interpretive essay?

• It is an analytic essay only.

• It is an interpretive essay only.

• It is both an analytic and an interpretive essay.

• It is neither an analytic nor an interpretive essay.