Lesson 10

Lesson Goals

• Can I apply correct and effective syntax, usage, mechanics, and spelling to communicate ideas and achieve intended purposes?

• Can I recognize and interpret language and sentence structures to deepen my understanding of texts?

Texts

Core

• • “To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 27 April 1781,” George Washington, Public Domain, 1781

• • “From Alexander Hamilton to Angelica Church, 19–20 June 1796,” Alexander Hamilton, Public Domain, 1796
  • “From Alexander Hamilton to Angelica Church, 25 June 1796,” Alexander Hamilton, Public Domain, 1796
  • “From Alexander Hamilton to The Royal Danish American Gazette, 6 September 1772,” Alexander Hamilton, Public Domain, 1772
  • “To Alexander Hamilton from Angelica Church, 5–7 November 1789,” Angelica Church, Public Domain, 1789

Materials

Tools

• Alexander Hamilton: Rewriting Hamilton and Burr Letters Handout

• Alexander Hamilton: Rewriting Washington, Hamilton, and Church Letters Handout

Reference Guides

• Conventions Reference Guide

Activity 1: Read

We will revise the letter “To Alexander Hamilton From Angelica Church, 5–7 November 1789.”

As a class, review the following terms. Use the Conventions Reference Guide to help you.

• clause

• independent or main clause

• dependent or subordinate clause

• compound sentence

• semicolon

After reviewing the grammar terms, revise and edit the letter “To Alexander Hamilton from Angelica Church, 5–7 November 1789” as a class on the Rewriting Washington, Hamilton, and Church Letters Handout.

Activity 2: Read

We will revise part of the letter “To Alexander Hamilton From George Washington, 27 April 1781.”

With a partner, revise part of the letter “To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington 27 April 1781” on the Rewriting Washington, Hamilton, and Church Letters Handout.

While revising the letter, look for the following:

• compound sentences

• commas separating two independent clauses rather than a semicolon or period (comma splice)

• long sentences that can be broken into multiple sentences

Share your revisions with the class.

Activity 3: Read

We will review parallel structure, find examples in Hamilton’s writing, and edit sentences that have errors.

Review the following examples of parallel structure found in Hamilton’s letters. Use the Conventions Reference Guide to help you.

“From Alexander Hamilton to Angelica Church, 25 June 1796”:

“While naughty tales are gold to you of us, we hear nothing but of your kindness, amiableness, agreeableness &c.”

“From Alexander Hamilton to the Royal Danish American Gazette, 6 September 1772”:

“How humble, how helpless, how contemptible you now appear.”

“From Alexander Hamilton to the Royal Danish American Gazette, 6 September 1772”:

“But alas! how different, how deplorable, how gloomy the prospect!”

“From Alexander Hamilton to the Royal Danish American Gazette, 6 September 1772”:

“On his right hand sits destruction, hurling the winds and belching forth flames.”

After reviewing parallel structure, revise and edit the passages on the Rewriting Washington, Hamilton, and Church Letters Handout with a partner.

After completion, share your revisions and edits with the class.