"Declaration of Independence" Non-fiction Close Reading Practice-- COMMON CORE

This product contains a close reading activity for the "Declaration of Independence." This close reading activity will target comprehension and analytical skills while exposing students to historical non-fiction. Skills assessed in this close reading include:

Context Clues
Non-fiction Structure & Purpose
Rhetorical Devices & Effect
Textual Evidence

Have your students try it individually and then with a group to compare answers.

For teachers in the states still taking the PARCC exam, it is important that students practice reading the diction and style of American "foundational texts" and authors because they are included on the "Simulated Research" portion of the exam. The "Declaration of Independence" can be a challenging read and is accompanied by 18 multiple-choice close reading questions that use Common Core/ PARCC question stems.

Answer key included.