The Art of Writing Well: Employing Ben Franklin's Methods in the Classroom: Keywords and Paraphrasing

Benjamin Franklin's Writing Techniques as a Model for Clear Communication

Introduction:

Benjamin Franklin was one of America's founding fathers and a prolific writer. He believed that good writing should be smooth, clear, short, and worth reading. One technique he used to improve his writing was to deconstruct and reconstruct passages by breaking them down into keywords and rewriting them in his own words.

In this lesson, we will learn how to paraphrase by using Benjamin Franklin's keywords technique. Paraphrasing is restating information in your own words without changing the meaning. It's an important skill for clearly communicating ideas and avoiding plagiarism. Let's get started!

Article:

Benjamin Franklin's Keywords Technique

Benjamin Franklin was born in 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts. From a young age, Franklin was an avid reader. He realized that he could improve his own writing by studying the works of great writers.

Franklin would select passages that he found well-written and full of meaning. He would record keywords from these passages in a notebook. Keywords are the important words that convey the main ideas.

For example, if the original passage said "A stitch in time saves nine," Franklin would record the keywords "stitch, time, save, nine."

After compiling a list of keywords from an exceptional passage, Franklin would attempt to recreate the passage in his own words using the keywords. This process helped Franklin understand the essence of the passage and express it in his unique writing style.

By deconstructing and reconstructing the works of master writers, Franklin strengthened his ability to write clearly and concisely. This useful technique enabled him to create his own influential and enduring works.

Glossary:

Paraphrasing - restating text or speech in your own words without changing the meaning

Keywords - the important words in a passage that convey the main ideas

Deconstruct - break down into components or basic elements

Reconstruct - build again; reassemble or reorganize

Plagiarism - presenting someone else's work or ideas as your own

Prolific - producing a large amount of work or many works

Enduring - lasting for a long time; surviving

Concluding Statement:

Benjamin Franklin's keyword technique demonstrates how studying excellent writing can improve your own skills. By identifying keywords, deconstructing passages, and reconstructing them in your own style, you can master paraphrasing. Use keywords to unlock the essence of great writing passages. Then put those ideas into your own words. Before you know it, you'll be writing clearly and articulately just like Benjamin Franklin!

Let's practice these paraphrasing skills using the keyword technique on some sample passages. First, identify the main keywords. Next, restate the main ideas in your own style. Off you go!

Here is a five paragraph article on the history of skateboarding with each paragraph decomposed into keywords that students could use to paraphrase the paragraphs:

Introduction

Skateboarding originated in the 1950s and has evolved into a popular action sport and art form. The history of skateboarding tracks the changes in styles, equipment, competitions, and professional skaters over the decades. Understanding the origins and advancement of skateboarding provides perspective on how it has come to be such an iconic activity today.

Paragraph 1:

1940s, California, surfers, sidewalk surfing, waves, roller skates, wooden boards, coasting, maneuvers 

Skateboarding first emerged in the 1940s when California surfers wanted to mimic ocean surfing on land. They attached roller skate wheels to wooden boards and “sidewalk surfed” along the coast, maneuvering to stay balanced. These rudimentary skateboards provided a similar thrill and challenges to riding ocean waves. Surfers innovated new tricks like nose wheelies, curb walking, and 360 degree spins which laid the foundation for modern skateboarding.

Paragraph 2: 

1950s, commercialization, Chicago Roller Skate Company,toy fad, skinny wheels, limited control, popularity faded

In the 1950s, skateboarding became commercialized when the Chicago Roller Skate Company mass produced boards with skinny clay wheels. Skateboarding was promoted as a toy fad for children. However, the instability and lack of control from these cheap boards meant that skateboarding’s initial popularity soon faded. Still, devoted California surfers continued to advance the activity and attract interest.

Paragraph 3: 

1970s, urethane wheels, maneuvers, ollie, pools, half-pipes, skateparks, competitions

Key innovations in the 1970s like urethane wheels allowed new skateboarding maneuvers. Skaters developed vertical tricks using swimming pools and half-pipes, like the ollie which allowed lifting off the board. Skateparks with half-pipes and ramps opened, catering to these new aerial styles. Magazines promoted skate culture. Organized competitions like the Del Mar Nationals introduced wider audiences to the sport and gifted amateurs. 

Paragraph 4: 

1980s, popularity spread, styles diversified, big brands, videos, legends, Tony Hawk

In the 1980s skateboarding gained wider participation and substantial popularity as it spread across America. Styles diversified from vertical ramp riding to street skating rails and steps. Big brands emerged. Skate videos enabled tricks to be shared and stars to emerge. Legends like Tony Hawk pioneered progressive technical feats that pushed boundaries. Skateboarding grew into an established action sport.

Conclusion:

From humble sidewalk surfing beginnings, skateboarding has evolved through key innovations, equipment improvements, style diversification and star athletes. Skate culture is now popular worldwide thanks to its creativity, thrills and self-expression. Skateboarding's dynamic history has solidified its place as an iconic action sport.

Here is an imagined Benjamin Franklin's writers checklist based on improving writing structure and elements:

Benjamin Franklin's Writing Checklist

Introduction:

- Does the introduction capture the reader's attention?

- Is the thesis statement clear and focused? 

- Does it preview the main points to be discussed?

Body Paragraphs:

- Does each paragraph begin with a strong topic sentence that supports the thesis?

- Do smooth transitions connect each paragraph and idea?

- Is supporting evidence included for all claims - facts, quotes, examples?

- Are sources properly cited?

- Is vocabulary precise and vivid?

- Are sentences varied in length and structure?

Conclusion:  

- Does the conclusion summarize the main points?

- Is the thesis statement restated in a fresh way?

- Does it leave the reader with something to think about?

- Does it provide a sense of closure?

Overall:

- Is the writing organized logically and coherently? 

- Are there smooth transitions between ideas?

- Is the tone and style engaging? 

- Is it free from grammar and spelling errors?

- Is it clear, smooth, concise and persuasive?

- Is it worthy of publication and likely to make an impact on readers?

After checking his writing against this criteria, Benjamin Franklin would identify areas needing improvement. He would study other great writers to understand how to elevate his work. Then he would reconstruct and refine his piece until fully satisfied it achieved excellence in communication and style.

Here are 10  mire article ideas that 6th graders could use to practice Benjamin Franklin's keyword paraphrasing technique:

1. The History of the Lightbulb - Learn about Thomas Edison's innovations and the development of electric lighting. Keywords: invention, patent, Lightbulb, electric, generator.

2. The Civil Rights Movement - An overview of this important time in America's history including key figures and events. Keywords: segregation, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., protest, civil rights act.  

3. How Sea Turtles Navigate - Discover how sea turtles find their way across thousands of miles of ocean to nesting beaches. Keywords: migration, magnetic field, hatchling, instinct, navigation.

4. Greek Myths and Legends - Explore famous Greek myths like the Trojan War and heroes like Odysseus and Achilles. Keywords: Zeus, Poseidon, Underworld, Mount Olympus, Apollo.

5. Life in a Medieval Castle - Learn about the structure of medieval castles and the knights, lords and ladies who lived in them. Keywords: moat, drawbridge, battlements, jousting, feudalism.

6. The Science of Tornadoes - Study how tornadoes form, the measurement of their strength, and famous twisters in history. Keywords: vortex, mesocyclone, Fujita scale, condensation, downdraft.  

7. Endangered Species of the Rainforest - Discover magnificent rainforest animals at risk of extinction like gorillas, jaguars and parrots. Keywords: deforestation, biodiversity, ecology, habitat loss, conservation.

8. The Harlem Renaissance - Learn about the explosion of African American culture, art and literature in 1920s New York. Keywords: jazz, Langston Hughes, Duke Ellington, Zora Neale Hurston, Cotton Club.

9. Amelia Earhart's Flight Around the World - Follow Earhart's historic and ultimately tragic attempt to circumnavigate the globe by plane. Keywords: aviation, navigator, disappearance, transatlantic, circumnavigate.  

10. The Ancient Maya Civilization - Explore the advanced culture, architecture, mathematics and decline of the Maya empire. Keywords: Mesoamerica, pyramids, hieroglyphics, astronomy, maize.