1. I think that Benjamin Franklin’s memoir has survived the tests of time, firstly because it gives us insight into one of the most intriguing minds of the 17th century and also because it gives us a firsthand account of all the events surrounding the Civil War. Through Franklin’s memoir, it becomes quite lucid how much he aspires to integrate in himself his father’s honesty, perseverance and his ability to make level headed decisions. Humility and honesty are constant traits emphasized by the author, such as when Franklin was caught taking stones from a nearby construction site to make a wharf. His father then told him “nothing was useful which was not honest” (pg 12). Franklin’s prose throughout his autobiography has been colloquial, while at the same time maintaining control over the flow of his writing. His tone is quite authoritative, although in some cases it becomes personal but he still maintains the tone of a teacher. He uses third person for the event of his past, showing his audience that he maintains an objective view of the text. His tone also has a touch of sarcasm and light humor, like when he hints at his disability to do math. This humanizes him, and helps his writing better connect to any audience. All the above factors combined make Benjamin Franklin’s memoir a compelling read.
2. A. Don’t use words like ‘wrong’, say you ‘disagree’ instead. Your opinion may not be the same as everyone else’s.
B. Even though you may not agree with someone else’s point of view, give their opinion some thought.
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