What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the below bulleted outlines. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Frederick Douglass was invited to give this speech at an anti-slavery event. However, he was already an accomplished speaker and knew his words would reach beyond the walls of the lecture hall.

• How does Douglass’s understanding of his wider audience influence the content of his speech and the rhetoric he employs? (topic sentence)
• In the body of your essay, include 3-4 examples of points Douglass makes, the types of appeals they are, and what his choices say about his audience.
• In your conclusion, consider how Douglass’s speech might have been written differently if his audience were only those who already agreed with his position.

2. The opening to Douglass’s speech is generally described as positive, respectful, and inviting to make his audience comfortable. At the same time, it is an elegant and crafty setup for the points to come.

• Investigate the opening pages of the speech: What rhetorical choices does Douglass make? How do they hint at his thesis? (topic sentence)
• Select and analyze 4-5 instances of word choice, imagery, metaphor, or example that hint at Douglass’s main argument before he makes it plain for the audience (up to page 10).
• In your conclusion, state and defend your opinion about which rhetorical choices from the opening of the argument are most effective.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. Douglass specifically addresses two aspects of American society in his speech: the ideals written into the Constitution and the morals espoused by the Christian church. What effect might these appeals have had on Douglass’s audience? Why does he choose these two pillars upon which to base his argument? 

2. Douglas takes care to applaud and uphold the righteousness of the Constitution throughout his speech rather than accusing it of false promises. What is the rhetorical effect of his upholding the Constitution while censoring the people who are failing to uphold it? What does this choice reveal about Douglass’s deeply held beliefs about the United States of America?