Customer Reviews

THE ELEMENTARY COMMON SENSE OF THOMAS PAINE: An Interactive Adaptation for All Ages

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a 5th grade teacher that has to teach all subject areas to a self-contained classroom, I am always trying to find a way to link lessons from various subjects together.

For Social Studies I am required to teach American history from the early colonies through the Revolutionary War. I ran across this book and asked my school librarian if she could buy a few copies to see if I could use them for guided reading discussions during my students' literacy time (by the way, the book includes guided reading questions after each chapter). I was amazed at how well it made the issues we were discussing in Social Studies come alive.

This book is an easy read for my students and I love it because it gives them access to what I have always thought to be one of the most important pieces of writing from early American history. After having several of my students read the book, two of them actually went online and downloaded the audio-book of Paine's original version (these kids and their iPods!) and three others became so excited and inspired by Paine's arguments that they wrote their own version of Common Sense and presented it to the class during one of our Revolutionary War simulations in Social Studies. Paine, one of them said, was a true American hero for standing up for what was right even if others disagreed with him. Almost all of the students who read this really got into all the activities this book offers online (there is an icon on several pages that asks readers to go online for interactive activities that correspond with the text on that particular page) and for the first time in a long time, I had students getting on their computers at home to - get this - READ HISTORY.

Wow. All of that from bringing this book into my classroom. I have since ordered a classroom set and it will be a part of what I do for years to come.

If you're a teacher of early American history, this book is a "must-have" in your classroom. It teaches, it enriches, and it inspires. Wonderful.

What? Paine's Common Sense adapted for all ages? That was the question I asked myself when I came across this book for the first time. I was one of the first reviewers on the last edition (5 stars) and became extremely curious on why a larger publisher had picked it up. Happily, and even surprisingly, the new version is a stunner. Clocking in at 216 pages (Amazon shows it at 192, which is wrong) the original version was a mere 100 pages. Philosophically, this new book is much more expansive and ambitious, adding in adapted versions of The Boston Port Act, The Olive Branch Petition, and King George III's Proclamation for Suppressing Rebellion and Sedition. Every one a major contributing factor to the start of the American Revolution. Brilliant inclusions, because these documents are subtly referenced in Thomas Paine's rant against the Monarchy in his Common Sense pamphlet. I had never read the Olive Branch Petition or Port Act before, mainly because of "Olde English"...although, I had read about their tremendous effect on the colonists. All are fascinating, in their purpose and historical context. Next, I loved the humorous illustrations in the book, and happily--there are more of them in this edition. They clarify much of the text in key areas. (Look for the logo on the chamberpot in the Quartering Act cartoon, I'm still laughing.)

A stranger and more entertaining history book probably does not exist. But I can't imagine any age group not learning a lot about American History, and the effect of Paine's Common Sense on galvanizing revolution, through these adaptations. This book adds more depth to the understanding of early American documents, and history, than most others I have ever seen. And, like Paine's purpose in 1776, this book too is written in language for everyone. PLUS, the original Common Sense is included as well...so you can compare the two and better understand the original.

PS: The website that goes with the book has a game where you get to be a Colonial Police Sketch Artist and design a King George III Wanted Poster. I have no idea how to critique it, nor should I probably try, but I was very entertained.

This was recommended to me by my local book store as I was recently trudging through an on-line college American History class, and was required to read Paine's Common Sense. It has been years since I've been in school and this was perfect for a quick and easy to understand reference to the document. Plus the original was included too. It was a life saver.

Although Thomas Paine's Common Sense is THE pivotal treatise leading to American independence, it has received relatively little readership outside the academic community and virtually none in elementary school classrooms. The language as well as the detailed, closely argued positions have relegated Paine's work to an 18th century pamphlet to be mentioned, but not read or studied. No longer. Wilensky's adaptation is a tour de force of scholarly and pedagogic expertise as he is both an historian of the American Revolution and an outstanding classroom teacher. It works on several levels and thus is truly accessible to readers of all ages; what might appear at times as oversimplification in fact reflects a rigorous understanding of the time and the man. Too often important historical publications are aimed at either the mature, informed reader or the elementary reader of all ages. Wilensky brilliantly bridges the extremes. Paine's assessment of the state of the colonies and their relationship with Great Britain as well as then tone of his writing are absolutely essential to understanding the coming of American independence. Thanks to Mark Wilensky, there is no reason for students and general readers not to appreciate and benefit from Paine's immortal work. There is a side benefit: Wilensky's adaptation will not only introduce students to Paine and his pamphlet, but also will help them generate a keen interest in history in general; that alone is no small achievement. As a professor who teaches and researches the history of Colonial America and the American Revolution at the University of Utah, I am mightily impressed by the quality of Wilensky's work and his contribution to the study of a critically important chapter in US history.

I'm embarrassed to say that my first encounter with Tomas Pain's "Common Sense" was last semester in college. For the first time in my life I understood how important American History is to being an American. I wanted to deepen my understanding so I came on here to look for my own copy and was very pleased to find Mark Wilensky's adaptation. This is the only book so far, out of my college education, which I think is worth saving for my child. Thank you Mark Wilensky, for resurrecting Common Sense.

If you are reviewing Paine's writings for yourself or to teach it to others, you can't do any better than this book. The author breaks down complex ideas into understandable concepts, creating a you-are-there knowledge base for the document and the times that produced it.

If you are looking for additional information and exercises, the author provides a passcode for a web site keyed to The Elementary Common Sense of Thomas Paine, making this a truly interactive, living document for study. The exercises suggested can be adapted for any age group or used as a method of stimulating your imagination for self-teaching.

I only wish that Mark Wilensky had been my history teacher!

I found this book to be very clear and logically written, bringing this seminal document into focus for an audience that normally gets very little exposure to it. Also, tying interactive, web-based, activities and resources into the presentation makes for a richer and more though-provoking experience for the student read. I just may pass along a copy to my son's school!

The Elementary Common Sense of Thomas Paine by Mark Wilensky
Savas Beatie,LLC - Publisher -2008
202 pages

I was not sure how I felt about this book when it arrived on my doorstep. It was about Thomas Paine's writing of "Common Sense" which I was eager to explore and hopefully expand my understanding of Paine himself, but a whole book on the writing that would fit into modern books 30 or so pages?

What I found was an easy to understand portrait of not only the man himself but of the environment in which brought about the reasons for the writing. This book not only explores the Acts and Petitions between England and the Colonies but also the economic, social and moral aspects of times from both points of view.

Another thing I really enjoyed about the book is that it goes to great lengths to make sure you can understand the context of the writing with definitions on the same page, and it also includes tons of historical quotes by other notable characters of the time. This is meant to be an elementary book, but I would think that the grade level should be starting about fourth grade to get a good understanding of it. However Mark Wilensky has taken another step, which is rare to the aspects of historical books written for the mainstream and not educational focused publishing's and has packed this book and corresponding website with games, audio, activities and timelines that could include almost any age or grade.

In terms of my review and the mentioning of the grades and ages that I referenced, don't be misled this book is for anyone, young or old from eight to a hundred and eight. It should be on a shelf in every classroom and on your shelf at home as well.... Why?

Because, most of us today do not know the origins of our history, our story. Have you ever just read the Declaration of Independence, Poor Richard or Common Sense? I would bet that most have not. I could go on a tangent here but I won't. I will in closing recommend this book whole heartedly; it's clean concise and easy to understand. It crosses all the generational boundaries and is very interesting read. Pick up a copy, you will not be disappointed.

Craig Anderson
Our History Project
[...]

This book was easy to decipher. I used it to help me write an essay on Thomas Paine's Common Sense. What was once a difficult tome of documents has been transformed into a comprehensive, easy to understand pamphlet. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who needs to get quick information in a simple package. Plus, the illustrations are amusing and well done. They definitely break up the monotony and make this a breeze to read. :)

The book was so informative and easily understood by my young daughter. It kept her interest and the illustrations were great!