Excerpt from "Letter on Thomas Jefferson"

After the Declaration of Independence was written, a politician wondered why such a historic document was trusted to the mind of a 33 year-old. In a "Letter on Thomas Jefferson," John Adams responded. Here is a list of some of the words he used to defend the choice.

Here are all the word lists to support the reading of Grade 6 Unit 3's texts from SpringBoard's Common Core ELA series: Don't ban peanuts at school, Penny Problem, Should Dodge Ball Be Banned, Most Dangerous 'Sport', High School Football, Letter on Thomas Jefferson, E-Readers Catch Younger Eyes, The Pros and Cons of Social Networking, Social Networking's Good and Bad Impacts, Are social networking sites good, The First Americans
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. committee
    a special group delegated to consider some matter
    There were three committees appointed at the same time
  2. convenient
    suited to your comfort or purpose or needs
    Mr. Lee was chosen for the Committee of Confederation, and it was not thought convenient that the same person should be upon both.
  3. composition
    the act of creating written works
    Mr. Jefferson came into Congress in June, 1775, and brought with him a reputation for literature, science, and a happy talent of composition.
  4. felicity
    pleasing and appropriate manner or style
    Writings of his were handed about, remarkable for the peculiar felicity of expression.
  5. frank
    characterized by directness in manner or speech
    Though a silent member in Congress, he was so prompt, frank
  6. explicit
    precisely and clearly expressed or readily observable
    explicit, and decisive upon committees and in conversation
  7. seize
    capture the attention or imagination of
    he soon seized upon my heart
  8. procure
    get by special effort
    I gave him my vote, and did all in my power to procure the votes of others
  9. discuss
    consider or examine in speech or writing
    The committee met, discussed the subject
  10. appoint
    assign a duty, responsibility, or obligation to
    and then appointed Mr. Jefferson and me to make the draft
  11. draft
    any of the various versions in the development of a work
    Jefferson proposed to me to make the draft.
  12. reason
    a justification for something existing or happening
    Reason first, you are a Virginian, and a Virginian ought to appear at the head of this business.
  13. obnoxious
    causing disapproval or protest
    Reason second, I am obnoxious, suspected, and unpopular. You are very much otherwise.
Created on Thu Aug 14 20:37:27 EDT 2014 (updated Fri Aug 15 11:44:16 EDT 2014)

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