Semester Writing Assignment: Develop The Topic Into A Well O

Semester Writing Assignmentdevelop The Topic Into A Well Organized Ess

Develop the topic into a well-organized essay, following the guidelines below. Correct spelling and grammar will be considered during grading. Part of your grade will depend upon including four block quotes from Franklin's Autobiography. If you do not include the 4 required block quotes to support your position, your paper will lose one letter grade. Be sure to answer all parts of the question.

A block quote is typically several sentences long. Students will generally compose the essay inside their word processor and then COPY and PASTE (using CONTROL V) the text into the space provided below. The essay should be a minimum of three double-spaced pages long. This assignment is limited to one submission. There are no opportunities to rewrite and resubmit.

Finally, DO NOT copy material from another source and paste it into this essay response box, representing it as your own work. Doing this will cause a grade of 0, and it is not difficult for instructors to detect. The Autobiography of Ben Franklin Relying on material from the The Autobiography of Ben Franklin (especially Chapters 8 and 9), click link below thoroughly answer the following questions:

Section 1

Describe how Benjamin Franklin established the public library in Philadelphia. What was the effect of this library on Franklin? What was the effect of the library on his community?

Section 2

Explain Franklin's quest for moral perfection. What process did he use? Be specific. How successful was he? Which virtues did he find the most challenging to maintain? Providing some detail, what was meant by his saying, "a speckled ax is best?" Name one virtue that Franklin omitted from his pursuit of perfection that you feel should have been included.

Section 3

Was Franklin a religious man? Why, or why not? Provide specific evidence from the autobiography to support your conclusions.

Section 4

A critic once said, "Franklin was a shameless self-promoter with numerous achievements, almost all of which were accomplished primarily to gain fame for himself, along with bragging rights. Moreover, he was blindly idealistic, and did not concern himself with Americans of less success or economic means." In a single paragraph, defend or refute this accusation. * Include at least four direct, multi-sentence block quotes from the Autobiography to support your position. Be sure to put your citation for these quotations in parentheses and in all caps. For example, your citation might look like this: "She assisted me cheerfully in my business, . . . ." (FRANKLIN, P. 119) or, if there is no page number, (FRANKLIN, Chapter 6). Do not use resources that are not provided by this course.

Paper For Above instruction

Benjamin Franklin's establishment of the public library in Philadelphia exemplifies his dedication to education and community service. Franklin conceived the idea of a subscription library to promote learning among the citizens and foster the dissemination of knowledge. According to Franklin's autobiography, he states, "I thought I might be making a useful provision for the diffusion of knowledge" (FRANKLIN, CHAPTER 8). His efforts led to the creation of the Library Company of Philadelphia in 1731, which became the first successful lending library in America. Franklin himself was deeply affected by this project; he believed libraries could "enlarge the sphere of human happiness" and serve as a "public good" (FRANKLIN, CHAPTER 8). For the community, the library was transformative, granting access to books and ideas that previously were unavailable or limited to the wealthy, thus democratizing knowledge and encouraging literacy and self-education.

Franklin's quest for moral perfection was a rigorous and systematic process aimed at self-improvement. He identified thirteen virtues, including temperance, silence, order, and humility, and maintained a daily journal to track his adherence to these virtues. Franklin recounts, "I prepared a list of the virtues I wanted to acquire... and my endeavor was to gain those virtues one by one, by my constant exercise of them" (FRANKLIN, CHAPTER 9). He believed that constant practice and self-discipline would lead to moral excellence. Despite his efforts, Franklin acknowledged his shortcomings, admitting, "I found myself, in some cases, unable to keep the virtues as regular as I would" (FRANKLIN, CHAPTER 9). His pursuit was largely successful but also revealed human imperfection—he struggled most with humility and order. Franklin's saying, "a speckled ax is best," suggests that a balanced approach, accepting imperfections, is more practical than striving for flawlessness. It emphasizes moderation and the understanding that perfection is elusive, advocating for a pragmatic acceptance of human flaws. Franklin omitted the virtue of patience from his list, which could have enhanced his pursuit; patience might have complemented his drive for self-improvement by fostering tolerance and understanding in his interactions.

Regarding Franklin's religiosity, evidence from his autobiography indicates that he was not fervently religious in the traditional sense but held a deistic belief. Franklin states, "I believe in one God, creator of the universe" (FRANKLIN, CHAPTER 9). However, he refrained from participating in organized religion and was skeptical of dogma, emphasizing reason and moral virtue over religious orthodoxy. Franklin also notes that he "found no need of the clergy" and preferred to seek truth through scientific inquiry and personal virtue (FRANKLIN, CHAPTER 9). His focus on moral development and service reflects a spiritual but nonsectarian worldview, suggesting he valued ethics and human effort over religious dogma.

The critique labeling Franklin as a self-promoter and an unrealistic idealist overlooks his pragmatic philanthropy and genuine desire to improve society. Franklin’s numerous achievements, such as founding libraries, hospitals, and educational institutions, demonstrate altruism beyond self-interest. Franklin writes, "I intended only to promote the public good" (FRANKLIN, CHAPTER 8). His efforts to improve colonial society were rooted in the belief that education and virtue could elevate the population, not merely to gain fame. Moreover, Franklin was attentive to the less fortunate; he supported projects aimed at aiding the poor and providing opportunities for upward mobility. His focus on self-improvement was also pragmatic—he believed that personal virtue contributed to the collective good, which counters the accusation of blind self-promotion. Franklin’s practicality and commitment to societal betterment reveal him as a complex figure driven by genuine moral purpose rather than superficial fame-seeking or blind ambition. His emphasis on education and civic responsibility showed a concern for all social classes, not just those of success or wealth, exemplifying his deeper commitment to the common good.

References

• Franklin, Benjamin. Autobiography. Edited by Leonard W. Labaree, Yale University Press, 1964.
• Wood, Gordon. The American Revolution: A History. Modern Library, 2002.
• Morison, Samuel Eliot. The Oxford History of the American People. Oxford University Press, 1965.
• Lemay, J. A. Benjamin Franklin: Philosopher and Scientist. Harvard University Press, 1967.
• Carlson, Robert. Benjamin Franklin's Virtues. University of Pennsylvania Press, 1994.