Class Summary 10/17/12 - 10/18/12

Yesterday we went over the summaries we did the day before of our section of the Declaration of Independence, writing down the notes other groups gathered and giving them ours. We then had a discussion on whats your word worth to you, and if things don't go your way would you break a promise. We also talked about how in Julius Caesar Brutus trusted everyone to carry out the plan of murdering Caesar but when making the Declaration of Independence they had to sign the document insuring their word. Some people said that this was because we have lost that trust we used to hold for one another while others thought the situations were entirely different so why compare them. We then filled out the handout we were given on the Structure of the Declaration. Today we read a persuasive article by Thomas Paine as to how during the revolution mens souls were tried. "These are the times that try mens souls" was the quote. We then wrote an essay or response on whether or not we felt that the quote applies to today, 2012. I do not believe that today the common man's soul is tried, so in my essay I gave reasons as to why I believed that.