©
Copyright 2007 New Jersey Newspaper Foundation.
All Rights Reserved.
Serialized
Story Guide for Teachers, Students and Families
By Antonette
Bomentre-Walter and Chris Yatchyshyn
Chapter
4 - The Secret is Revealed
Vocabulary
ambitious - adjective;
having a desire to achieve a particular goal
petition - noun;
a formal request
parliament - noun;
the supreme legislative body of the British
government
stifled - verb;
repressed, stopped
ordinary - adjective;
to be expected: usual or of common quality, rank,
or ability
debate - verb;
to formally discuss an idea, question, or
motion by parties with opposing views
seething - verb;
to become violently agitated
crucial - adjective;
decisive; trying, severe
independence - noun;
the quality or state of self-governing
Recalling the Facts
1. Where was the
young man in the story sent to work?
2. It was discovered
that the young man could do what very well?
3. What did the other
tax collectors ask the young man to do?
4. Where did the
young man have to take the petition?
5. What language was
Anna's father teaching her?
6. Who did Anna think
wrote Common Sense?
7. What was the name
of the debating club that Thomas Paine belonged
to in England?
Comprehension
Questions
1. Who was surprised
that he could put his thoughts in order? Why did
it matter?
2. Whom did Thomas
Paine meet in Parliament? Why was that important?
3. In Parliament, who
considered changes in the English laws?
4. How old was Paine
when he succeeded at his first work and at what
had he previously failed?
5. What were the
crucial skills that Paine possessed and what was
the whispered word?
In the News
Independence is as important
today for some countries as it was in Thomas
Paine's day. Search the news for examples of
places still fighting for independence. How are
they going about it? At what cost? What crucial
skills may they be lacking to accomplish their
goal? Find your local newspaper:
Link
to the directory of New Jersey newspapers OR Link
to the directory of Pennsylvania newspapers.
Take It to the Real
World
Paine explained that
"there were always those wars that England
waged, and each time they drafted the Americans
to fight in their wars." It "was not
very fair and it cost much money." Today the
United States is engaged in a war filled with
controversy. Look for a news story, photo,
cartoon, etc. that makes reference to the war.
Take a stand and write a response. Find
your local newspaper: Link
to the directory of New Jersey newspapers OR
Link to the directory of Pennsylvania newspapers.
Make a Prediction
What will happen in the new
colonies once the whisper of
"independence" is spoken?
Essay Questions
- In
this story, Paine mentions wars that the
colonists did not want to fight. What
were some of those wars? Why did the
colonist object to fighting those wars?
- "The English Parliament was taxing
the colonies to pay for their
protection." Assess this statement
in light of the comments in this story.
Answers to Comprehensive Questions and
Recalling the Facts
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