Jackson GIlbert Benjamin Franklin Memoir Part 1 Response

The most interesting aspect of Benjamin Franklin’s memoir is the premise of the self made man. Franklin overcame many obstacles in order to become one of the most influential men in American history. He was born into a middle class family of seventeen children (Franklin,10). During Franklin’s one year of proper education at the age of eight, he advanced through three classes (Franklin, 11). Even after leaving school, Franklin kept reading and absorbing knowledge. Franklin went to great lengths to be an independent man. He left home for New York at the age of seventeen with nothing but the cloths on his back (Franklin, 24). Franklin’s life story is that of one man who educates himself and gains social power with only hard work and a little luck. I find the idea of a self made man fascinating and Franklin is certainly one of the exemplary self made men in our history.

Classroom Discussion Guidelines:

1 – Allow others to fully explain themselves before responding.

2 – Agree to Disagree.

Trevor McCoy's response to Benjamin Franklin's autobiography.

Response to the autobiography:
While it is called a biography, one of the most noticeable aspects of Benjamin Franklin's autobiography is that he spends most of his time talking about other people. This allows the reader to not only see what what Benjamin Franklin accomplished, but the reasons for his actions and the people that affected him. In addition to his content, Benjamin Franklin's diction and spelling of certain words allows for a modern audience to easily understand his writing while still getting the full affect that comes from an old English memoir. This can be seen in Franklin's spelling of, such words as "consider'd" (Franklin 37.) If the reader has some imagination, it quite easy to understand an elderly man explaining the journey of his life, adding considerably to the feeling that this is a personal conversation. All of these aspects as well as many others suggest Benjamin Franklin's autobiography is still so widely read, because it is relatable, humorous, and even relevant to modern issues.

Ideas for the class:
1. Students should not insult other student's religions.
2. Keep common courtesy at all times while engaging in any sort of argument or debate.
3. If a student trips on his or her words, try to figure out what they were trying to say instead of using it as an opportunity to insult them.

Kevin Cho Franklin Response

Franklin's memoir is a well structured story that flows fluently. His use of humor, in particular, makes the reading more interesting. For example, Franklin tells a story of how his friend, Collins, stubbornly refuses to row during his turn and “[swears] he would make me row, or throw me overboard” (34). In response, Franklin throws him over the board into the river and whimsically adds “I knew he was a good swimmer” (34). Adding occasional humor like this allows the story to flow fluently and illuminates his ability to describe rough situations with a sense of humor. Another characteristics that makes this memoir popular is his honesty. On page 26, he reveals that he pays the people of the boat because a man can sometimes be “more generous when he has but a little money than when he has plenty, perhaps thro' fear of being thought to have but little.” (26). Because of his veracity, the reader can truly see what Franklin was thinking and understand his actions. Among many qualities, his use of humor and candid writing help make this one of the most frequently read autobiographies in the US.

Randy Dalton's Franklin Response

Benjamin Franklin used his outstanding writing abilities as the cornerstone of his autobiography. Franklin created a narrative that not only tells his life story but tells it such a way that readers can relate to. The story reads not as a list of facts like a history book but more like a novel with themes. The idea of reading a factual account on a personal level is alluring to many readers. Men can relate to the time when they were young boys and partook in mischief just as Franklin did when he and his friends stole rocks to build a wharf (Franklin, 11). Successful businessmen can relate to the struggles Franklin had when he was young but also to the time when Franklin was promoted and “left the pressmen” (Franklin, 46). Granted, some word choices may seem archaic to contemporary readers, but in general, readers can often envision themselves in the shoes of Franklin.

Rules:

1. Give an honest consideration of other opinions. Refrain from judging other students even if his or her comment seems absurd to you.

2. The purpose of discussion is to find the most logical answer to a problem or question as a group. Actively search for the best answer to the topic even if that means altering your first opinion.

Connor Ellis Ben Franklin Response

Question 1

In his autobiography Benjamin Franklin keeps the reader interested by providing an engaging description of his interesting lifetime. He manages to balance the diction of a well-learned man with humor and stories from his past.

One such interesting story is told by Franklin is his debate with his friend Collins about the ability and social correctness of women to become well-educated. Franklin states that he took the pro-women’s education stance, albeit partially as a devil’s advocate. The two young men argue back and forth on the topic and Franklin states that he had the upper hand in terms of grammar but that Collins was more elegant. This story was engaging because not only is it related to the topic of our course but also because it shows that Franklin was not perfect.

On page 16 Franklin states that most people don’t make a habit of starting arguments except for “lawyers, university men, and men of all sorts that have been bred at Edinborough”. This small bit of humor allows the reader to see that Franklin was a witty and comical man. In learning about him many students think of him as the smart old man who did nothing but extremely important United States business, and it is good to know that that he was more dynamic than this.

Question 2

1. As a group we need to agree that over the course of the semester many controversial topics will come up. Each of us needs to understand that we will not agree with everything is said and we need to be able to learn from each different viewpoint.

2. When a person gives their ideas they need to be able to convey them quickly but fully so that there is time for an in-depth discussion which covers many different topics and standpoints.

Bryan Terschan Franklin Response

"When I reflected on it, has induced me sometimes to say, that were it offered to my choice, I should have no objection to a repetition of the same life from the beginning (pg. 6)." Franklin sets the tone with this statement in the very beginning of his autobiography. It's quotes like these that set Franklin's autobiography apart from others as being more of a narrative. His personality and thoughts are portrayed in a way that everyone feels they can relate to him. Franklin's tone also lets people see the struggles and hardships he had to go through to be a better person and a better writer. An example of this can be found on page 17 when he looks back at his original work and realizes that he needs to make amends. There are a few other situations like this one that give Franklin's autobiography the theme of self-betterment or determination and perseverance. Throughout his story he also keeps the audience engaged by letting you see that he is more than just a smart man who accomplished many things in his life. He uses words that give him personality, yet intelligence. He also uses humor to let his audience know that he was a much more dynamic person than everyone thought; he has emotions just like everyone else.


Rules:
1. When discussing controversial topics, everyone needs to respect each others views and take the time to think about their rebuttal before saying it to prevent and disrespectful comments towards one another.
2. If someone has a different viewpoint than you, maybe you could ask them to explain it in order to have a better understanding for what they are saying. This way, everyone who disagrees will be better educated about the opposing viewpoint and will not make any false assumptions.

Blog Post assignment in lieu of Friday's class

By 5pm Friday, add a “new post” (not a comment on this post) answering the following two questions:

1.    What qualities of Benjamin Franklin’s memoir—still one of the most frequently read autobiographies in the US—make it a compelling narrative?  Consider some of the following aspects of Franklin’s writing as well as others that might be of interest to you: his diction (word choice), style, tone, voice, humor, organization, use of examples.  You might want to compare and contrast Franklin’s memoir with another you have recently read.  Provide page numbers when you quote Franklin.  Your response should be about 150 words long.

2.    List two or three guidelines that should shape our classroom conversation so that it is constructive and respectful.  Here are mine: 

a) If you disagree with a comment made by another student, take issue with the comment, not the student.

b) “Step up, step back.”  If you disagree with a comment made by a student, don’t let that disagreement go unexpressed.  If you have expressed your view, be sure to take a step back to allow other viewpoints to be heard.

c) Individuals should not be viewed as representatives of their race, culture, nationality, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, or any other group identity.  In other words, avoid generalizations about groups of people.

Remember to read everyone’s posts before class on Monday, finish the assigned Franklin reading, and bring your signed syllabus forms if you haven’t already.