Chains Epigraph Research Activity
- Use the search directions on the epigraph assigned.
- Click on the links and read about the person or topic. Find out what role the author played in the American Revolution.
- After you have read, write a 1-2 paragraph biography in your own words. Follow the CEEC format – claim, explanation, evidence, commentary. Make any notes or outlines for the paragraph on the back of this paper. Here are some helpful sentence starters.
- Claim: The author of the epigraph is ______.
- Explanation/ Evidence (list at least three facts relevant to the time period):
- This person accomplished ______.
- The author’s role in the American Revolution was ______.
- Commentary:
- This person relates to Chains because ______.
- I have learned ______.
- Be sure you cite your source!
Format to Use: Author’s Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article."Webpage Title.Publication Date.Today’s date.Source Type.
Chains Epigraph Research Activity
- Use the search directions on the epigraph assigned.
- Click on the links and read about the person or topic. Find out what role the author played in the American Revolution.
- After you have read, write a 1-2 paragraph biography in your own words. Follow the CEEC format – claim, explanation, evidence, commentary. Make any notes or outlines for the paragraph on the back of this paper. Here are some helpful sentence starters.
- Claim: The author of the epigraph is ______.
- Explanation/ Evidence (list at least three facts relevant to the time period):
- This person accomplished ______.
- The author’s role in the American Revolution was ______.
- Commentary:
- This person relates to Chains because ______.
- I have learned ______.
- Be sure you cite your source!
Format to Use: Author’s Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article."Webpage Title.Publication Date.Today’s date.Source Type.
Chapter 1: “Youth is the seed time of good habits, as well in nations and individuals” (Anderson 3). -Thomas Paine, Common Sense
Go to and type in “Thomas Paine.”
Chapter 4: “What a fine affair it would be if we could flit across the Atlantic as they say the angels do from planet to planet” (Anderson 24).
-Letter from John Adams to his wife Abigail
Go to and under “1600” click on “presidents”. Find “John Adams”. Read the bio.
Read the bio for Abigail Adams.
Chapter 6: “We are told that the subjection of Americans may tend to the diminution of our own liberties;…how is it that we hear the loudest yelps for liberty among the drivers of Negroes?” (Anderson 36).
-English Author Samuel Johnson in his political pamphlet, Taxation No Tyranny
Go to and click on “brief biography”. Read the bio.
Chapter 9: “…hundreds in the [New York] colony are active against us and such is the weakness of the government, (if it can deserve such a name) that the Tories openly profess their sentiments in favour of the enemy, and live unpunished” (Anderson 53).
-Letter of William Tudor, Washington’s Chief Legal Officer, To John Adams
Go to click on “search site” and type in “William Tudor”. Click on the SECOND link “Letter from William Tudor to Delia Jarvis, 24 December 1776”.
Read the bio from wikipedia. Make sure you write about the William Tudor from the American Revolution. There are other William Tudors who are sons and grandsons of this epigraph’s author.
Chapter 16: “A report prevails here that a most vile deep laid plot was yesterday discover’d at New York, I have not been able to ascertain the particular facts…however, 40 persons are apprehended & secur’d, among them is the Mayor of the City. What baseness are our enemies not cable of, who would wish to be connected with a people so destitute of every virtue, God forbid it shod ever be the fate of America” (Anderson 97).
-Letter of Congressional Delegate William Whipple to Joshua Brackett
Go to click on “Signers of the Declaration” on the left, then in the list of names click on “William Whipple”. Read the bio.
Chapter 18: “…Received information that a most horrid plot was on foot by the vile Tory’s of this place…to assassinate His Excellency, and the other general officers—blow up the [gunpowder] magazine, spike the cannon, etc…hope they will receive the punishment due such infamous wretches” (Anderson 111).
-Journal of Samuel B. Webb, Washington’s Aide-De-Camp
Go to under “Good Living” click on “Claverack History”, then click on the picture that says “Historic Figures” on the left, the click on the blue link title “The Webbs”. Read the bio.
Chapter 23: “I also have been whipped many a time on my naked skin, and sometimes till the blood has run down over my waistband; but the greatest grief I then had was to see them whip my mother, and to hear her, on her knees, begging for mercy…” (Anderson 146). -Rev. David George, on his childhood as a slave
Go to click on “People” on the left, then under “Religious Leaders” click on “David George”.
Chapter 29: “The demons of fear and disorder seemed to take full possession of all and everything upon that day” (Anderson 177).
-Journal of Private Joseph Plumb Martin, fifteen-year-old Patriot soldier
Go to and type in “Private Joseph Plumb Martin”.
Chapter 36: “…Our Private soldiers in your hands, are treated in a manner shocking to humanity and that many of them must have perished thro’ hunger, had it not been for the charitable contributions of the inhabitants” (Anderson 224).
-General George Washington complaining to British General William Howe
Go to and under “1600” click on “presidents”. Find “George Washington”. Read the bio.
Chapter 40: “It is with much concern that I am to inform your Lordship the unfortunate and untimely defeat at Trenton has thrown us further back, than was at first apprehended, from the great encouragement given to the rebels” (Anderson 256).
-British General William Howe writing to Lord George Germain, Secretary of State for American Colonies after the American victory at Trenton
Go to and type in “William Howe.”
Chapter 42: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (Anderson 270).
- Declaration of Independence of the United States of America
Go to and type in “Declaration of Independence”.
Go to and under “1600” click on “presidents”. Find “Thomas Jefferson”. Read the bio.
Chapter 43: “That even a failure cannot be more fatal than to remain in our present situation in short some enterprise must be undertaken in our present circumstances or we must give up the cause…Our affairs are hastening fast to ruin if we do not retrieve them by some happy event. Delay with us is now equal to a total defeat” (Anderson 279).
- Colonel Joseph Reed in a letter to General George Washington
Go to click on “Signers of the Declaration” on the left, then in the list of names click on “Joseph Reed”. Read the bio.
Chapter 44: “That the question was not whether, by a declaration of independence, we should make ourselves what we are not; but whether we should declare a fact which already exists…” (Anderson 289).
-Thomas Jefferson about writing of the Declaration of Independence
Go to and under “1600” click on “presidents”. Find “Thomas Jefferson”. Read the bio.
Chapter 45: “Everything that is right or reasonable pleads for separation. The blood of the slain, the weeping voice of nature cries ‘TIS TIME TO PART” (Anderson 298).
-Thomas Paine, Common Sense
Go to and type in “Thomas Paine.”
Student Name: ______Hour: ______Date: ______
Chains Epigraph Assignment
Each chapter in Chains is introduced with an epigraph. An epigraph is an introductory quotation. For this activity, you will choose an epigraph from the novel, and explain its significance to not only the chapter it precedes, but the overall theme of Chains.
- First, choose an epigraph from the suggested list. Write the epigraph here, and cite it:
______2. Now, you need to figure out the theme for the epigraph. What does the author of the epigraph want you to think about his/her topic?______
- How does your epigraph relate to the chapter it precedes? How is the epigraph relevant to the chapter? Your answer should be a paragraph, and look somewhat like this:The epigraph on page _____ is relevant to chapter ____ because…
______
- Now, expand pand on your answer by developing that with an example. You could start with: For example,…______
______
5. Figure out the theme of Chains. What is Chains about? Write down three to five topics:
1. 4.
2.
3. 5.
- Now, choose a topic from your list to answer this question: What does Laurie Halse Anderson want the audience to think about the topic? You could start your answer with: The author wants us to think…______
______
- Build on that topic of theme by showing how the epigraph you are researching relates. To begin, finish out this sentence: The author introduces the theme of ______in the epigraph, and extends the theme throughout the chapter through …
______
7. Now, you will research the author of the epigraph you have chosen. Go to Google, and type in the name of the person who wrote the epigraph. Find a credible source from the list, and read about the person. After you have read, write a one-paragraph biography of that author in your own words. Remember to cite your source.
______
You are now going to create a visual to accompany your assignment. It can be a letter, newspaper, drawing, flyer, poster, journal entry, or any other genre that represents the theme, tone or topic of your epigraph assignment.
Chains Epigraphs
Chapter 1: “Youth is the seed time of good habits, as well in nations and individuals” (Anderson 3).
Thomas Paine, Common Sense
Chapter 4: “What a fine affair it would be if we could flit across the Atlantic as they say the angels do from planet to planet” (Anderson 24).
Letter from John Adams to his wife Abigail
Chapter 6: “We are told that the subjection of Americans may tend to the diminution of our own liberties;…how is it that we hear the loudest yelps for liberty among the drivers of Negroes?” (Anderson 36).
-English Author Samuel Johnson in his political pamphlet, Taxation No Tyranny
Chapter 9: “…hundreds in the [New York] colony are active against us and such is the weakness of the government, (if it can deserve such a name) that the Tories openly profess their sentiments in favour of the enemy, and live unpunished” (Anderson 53).
-Letter of William Tudor, Washington’s Chief Legal Officer, To John Adams
Chapter 16: “A report prevails here that a most vile deep laid plot was yesterday discover’d at New York, I have not been able to ascertain the particular facts…however, 40 persons are apprehended & secur’d, among them is the Mayor of the City. What baseness are our enemies not cable of, who would wish to be connected with a people so destitute of every virtue, God forbid it shod ever be the fate of America” (Anderson 97).
-Letter of Congressional Delegate William Whipple to Joshua Brackett
Chapter 18: “…Received information that a most horrid plot was on foot by the vile Tory’s of this place…to assassinate His Excellency, and the other general officers—blow up the [gunpowder] magazine, spike the cannon, etc…hope they will receive the punishment due such infamous wretches” (Anderson 111).
-Journal of Samuel B. Webb, Washington’s Aide-De-Camp
Chapter 21: “To be sold at the office of William Tongue, broker, at the house of the late Mr. Waldron near the Exchange (lower end of Broad Street) the following goods and merchandise, viz.: One Negro Wench, 22 years old, has had smallpox, is a useful domestic, price 80,…One Negro Boy, 16 years old, price 90,…one Negro Wench, 30 years old, with or without her son 5 years old price 60 or 80” (Anderson 130).
-Advertisement in the New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury newspaper
Chapter 23: “I also have been whipped many a time on my naked skin, and sometimes till the blood has run down over my waistband; but the greatest grief I then had was to see them whip my mother, and to hear her, on her knees, begging for mercy…” (Anderson 146).
-Rev. David George, on his childhood as a slave
Chapter 29: “The demons of fear and disorder seemed to take full possession of all and everything upon that day” (Anderson 177).
-Journal of Private Joseph Plumb Martin, fifteen-year-old Patriot soldier
Chapter 36: “…Our Private soldiers in your hands, are treated in a manner shocking to humanity and that many of them must have perished thro’ hunger, had it not been for the charitable contributions of the inhabitants” (Anderson 224).
-General George Washington complaining to British General William Howe
Chapter 40: “It is with much concern that I am to inform your Lordship the unfortunate and untimely defeat at Trenton has thrown us further back, than was at first apprehended, from the great encouragement given to the rebels” (Anderson 256).
-British General William Howe writing to Lord George Germain, Secretary of State for American Colonies after the American victory at Trenton
Chapter 42: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (Anderson 270).
- Declaration of Independence of the United States of America
Chapter 43: “That even a failure cannot be more fatal than to remain in our present situation in short some enterprise must be undertaken in our present circumstances or we must give up the cause…Our affairs are hastening fast to ruin if we do not retrieve them by some happy event. Delay with us is now equal to a total defeat” (Anderson 279).
- Colonel Joseph Reed in a letter to General George Washington
Chapter 44: “That the question was not whether, by a declaration of independence, we should make ourselves what we are not; but whether we should declare a fact which already exists…” (Anderson 289).
-Thomas Jefferson about writing of the Declaration of Independence
Chapter 45: “Everything that is right or reasonable pleads for separation. The blood of the slain, the weeping voice of nature cries ‘TIS TIME TO PART” (Anderson 298).
-Thomas Paine, Common Sense