Reading and Writing Guide for Paper #1 based on Book of Ages: The Life and Opinions of Jane Franklin by Jill Lepore

Your paper will attempt to answer this basic question:

Why would an eminent historian like Lepore spend the considerable time and effort to research and write a book about the obscure younger sister of perhaps the most famous and acclaimed man in early America, Ben Franklin?

As you develop your essay you may want to consider some or all of the following:
• Why did Lepore undertake this task?
• Did Jane leave much evidence of her life?
• Is her life even worth writing about? Is she that ordinary?
• Does everyone have a life worth recording?
• Is this book as much about Ben Franklin as it is about his sister Jane?
• What does Lepore expect readers to learn from this book that could not be learned from one of the many biographies of Ben Franklin, including his Autobiography?
• How were the lives of these two siblings irrevocably shaped by gender?
• Why were their destinies so different if Jane was so accomplished?
• Does the book provide any unique insights into the character of Ben Franklin?
• In what way(s) was Jane ordinary or extraordinary for her times?
• Are there many female “voices” from the 18th century? Why or why not?
• Compare and contrast the siblings’ personalities. How alike? How different?
• Why were Jenny and Benny so connected?
• Describe their relationship.
• Why does Ben seem to constantly strive to be perceived as “ordinary”?
• Does Jane do the same?
• Why was the ability to write a mark of status?
• What does Ben think of Jane’ spelling and grammar? Why was it rather deficient?
• What was Jane’s “Book of Ages”? Was it really a book in the conventional sense? How does Lepore use it?
• Were there other sources to reconstruct Jane’s life? What is the problem with these sources?
• Is Jane’s story as absorbing and important as Ben’s public triumphs? Explain.
• How does Lepore handle gaps in the documentary evidence of Jane’s life?
• Can only famous men and women make history?
• Explain the paradox that the value of this book resides in Jane’s “ordinariness”.

Procedure:

Your task is to read the book and write a persuasive essay effectively answering the basic question relating to the book. (See above.) The essay must be closely tied to the text. Particularly this relates to citing specific evidence, examples, quotes, ideas and references in the book that illustrate and support the major points and contentions in your paper.

Since most or all references will be to the one book it will only be necessary to insert the page number in brackets after each reference, eg. [5] For any outside references use a standard format, but the Chicago/Turabian format is used in history.

Include a Bibliography page with the publishing information of the book on a separate sheet at the end.

Carefully read page 4 of the Syllabus for other specific requirements and criteria concerning this assignment.

Book will be discussed in class on due date which is TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7TH.