Pursuit of Happiness and the Role of the Government | Homework Helper

I don’t know how to handle this English question and need guidance.

1. Write a Rhetorical Precis for the Declaration of Independence

2. Write a Brief Argument

Beneath your one paragraph precis, write a short argument that presents your understanding of the “pursuit of happiness” and the U.S. government’s role in securing or ensuring this based on the readings, below. (You’ll find the viewable texts further down on the page.)

• The Declaration of Independence
• “The Lost Meaning of the Pursuit of Happiness,” Arthur M. Schlesinger
• “Liberty, Licentiousness, and the Pursuit of Happiness,” James R. Rogers
• “How Government Can Make the American Public Happy,” Zach Miners
• “Can Government Spending Really Increase Happiness?,” Emily Moon

Argument Details

• In a 1.5-3 page MLA-formatted essay, respond to the following prompts:

• • Referring to the following sources, interpret what the “pursuit of happiness” meant when it was included in The Declaration of Independence.
    • Use at least TWO QUOTATIONS with signal phrases, in-text citations, and explanation FROM AT LEAST TWO OF THESE TEXTS to support your interpretation.
      • The Declaration of Independence
      • “The Lost Meaning of the Pursuit of Happiness,” Arthur M. Schlesinger
      • “Liberty, Licentiousness, and the Pursuit of Happiness,” James R. Rogers
  • According to your close reading and interpretation of The Declaration of Independence, does the government play a role in securing or ensuring the happiness of its people? If so, which passage or passages in The Declaration of Independence refer to this and how do you interpret them? If not, why do you think this founding document refers to the pursuit of happiness at all?
    • Use at least ONE QUOTATION with a signal phrase, in-text citation, and explanation from The Declaration of Independence in your response.
  • Do you think the should play a role in the happiness of its citizens? If so, how so? If not, why not?
    • Use at least ONE QUOTATION with a signal phrase, in-text citation, and explanation from AT LEAST ONE of the following texts in your response. You can agree or disagree with a point or points made in the article. Just be sure that the point fits logically in your mini-essay.
      • “How Government Can Make the American Public Happy,” Zach Miners
      • “Can Government Spending Really Increase Happiness?,” Emily Moon

      Basic Techniques

      • Fully Explain: Assume your readers haven’t read or watched what you have. Explain ideas so they can understand them anyway.
      • Introducing Authors: Introduce key authors in your academic writing by using their full name the first time and their last name only thereafter.
        • Sometimes include the title of their work if this detail is important.
      • Formatting Titles:
        • The first letter of all keywords in titles are capitalized.
        • The titles of short works, like short videos and articles, are placed in “Quotation Marks.”

      Use Signal Phrases to Make it Clear You’re Referring to Another Author’s Ideas

      • Here are some examples of signal phrases to use to show you’re referring to another author’s ideas:
        • • Tobgay explains,
          • Tobgay shows,
          • Tobgay finds…
      • Use the present tense when referring to an author’s ideas, even though they wrote or spoke these ideas in the past. Ideas are considered “eternally present.”

      Use MLA In-Text Citations

      • Add an MLA in-text citation at the end of each key point, so a reader can easily find the points you’re referring to in the original source.
        • • In-Text Citations are used after paraphrases of authors’ ideas AND actual or “direct” quotations.
          • MLA in-text citations follow the sentences in which source information is found.
            • If you know the author’s name and video timestamp:
              • Signal phrase, sentence (Tobgay 00:01:20-00:01:26). <– The zeros correspond to the time signature of the section you’re citing.
            • If you know the author’s name and page number
              • Signal phrase, sentence (Tobgay 1).
            • If you know the author’s name and paragraph number
              • Signal phrase, sentence (Tobgay , par. 3).
      • • The period is always placed after the in-text citation, not after the sentence.
          • • YES: Periods are placed after in-text citations (Tobgay , par. 1).
            • NO: Periods are placed after in-text citations. (Tobgay , par. 1).