This assignment asks you to conduct research on the internet as well as reading
“The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin: With Related Documents,” and Introduction by Louis Masur (2nd edition)
- Using a search engine such as google, search for “Ben Franklin” or Benjamin Franklin.
- Choose at least three sites and read through the entire site.
- Assess the following:
- Who authored the website?
- What is the purpose of the website?
- How does the website depict Franklin?
- What is the point of view of the website?
- Who is the intended audience?
- What do we learn about colonial America?
- Is the information accurate?
- What kind of generalizations about Franklin can you make from the website s that you selected?
- In the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin assess the following:
- What was Franklin’s purpose in writing his autobiography?
- Who was the intended audience?
- What do we learn about Franklin?
- What kind of bias is there in Franklin’s account?
- What do we learn about colonial America?
- After you have completed steps 1-5, you are ready to begin writing your paper.
In your paper, address the following:
- Compare and contrast the websites on Franklin and Franklin’s autobiography. What are the similarities and differences?
- How reliable are the websites ? The autobiography?
- What do we learn about colonial America in the websites and the autobiography?
- What is the significance of the autobiography? Is it useful for a modern reader, why or why not?
- What additional sources (and types of sources) would you like to see to give you greater confidence in your understanding Franklin?
Your essay must be about 8-10 double-spaced typed pages in length.

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