Central Idea/Lesson 2.8

In order to analyze the central idea or ideas of texts, including historical American speeches and essays, note the following: 

• key ideas the author states about the topic

“Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with these war-like preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled, that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which kings resort.”

“And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing. We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves.”

“In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free, if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending, if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained, we must fight!”

(a)   is the process of restating information or ideas from a text in your own words while retaining the original meaning. It involves rephrasing sentences or passages to make them clearer or to fit your own writing style without copying the exact wording of the original source. 

Paraphrasing a passage as you read involves a few deliberate steps to ensure you capture the original meaning in your own words. Here’s a guide to help you do this effectively:

1    “Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Convention: If we could first know where we are and whither we are tending, we could then better judge what to do and how to do it. A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free.

2   "I do not expect the Union to be dissolved — I do not expect the house to fall — but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other. "The Supreme Court of the United States is the tribunal chosen by the Constitution and appointed by the people to decide these questions; and, while it is a tribunal for that purpose, it is no more so than the courts of every State are such tribunals."

3    "Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it."

This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.

Which of the following sentences from the text best supports your answer to Part A?