Huge bundle of resources! Video and audio clips included! These items are designed to be used in an AP Language and Composition course after students have a basic introduction to rhetoric. This zip file includes the materials needed to guide students through a close reading and analysis of The Declaration of Independence. It allows them to work in groups to identify key components of rhetoric while using the acronyms SOAPSTone and SOLD to guide them. The lesson culminates with students writing a rhetorical precis to demonstrate their understanding of the text. Included are the following: 1. A PowerPoint which walks students through the entire lesson and includes: audio and video clips to engage students in this historical document, a way to group students, answers to the SOAPSTone chart found on the student handout, and two rhetorical precis examples to show to students 2. The Declaration of Independence text - reformatted so that students can annotate according to the directions in the activity 3. The Declaration of Independence text for the teacher - provides thorough answers and explanations that correlate with what students are identifying and annotating 4. The Declaration of Independence handout for students - provides a step-by-step process for annotation of the text, a place to write answers, uses SOAPSTone and SOLD 5. Groups - place students into small groups of three by using the famous pictures provided (a second sheet of "King of England" pics can be used if you have an odd number of students) 6. Rhetorical Precis explanation handout