Question

I'm having extreme trouble with an homework assignment. Any help or spark of the mind will help. It is referring to "Thomas Jefferson on George Washington". The assignment is as follows...

Write in the manner of Jefferson" a characterization of an important figure in public life today.
Consider whether this manner (as Jefferson wrote in) enables you to present what you think is essential truth and whether the attempt brings to light any special problems concerning either the task itself or public life today.

Answer 1

Obviously, you need to know enough about Jefferson to "get into his mind" and not only write in his style, but write as he would think. Do you know that much about him. If not, then you need to do some reading.

The first four links in here are to pieces of writing of Jefferson's:
http://www.google.com/search?q=written+by+thomas+jefferson&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7GGIE_en

And of course -- the Declaration of Independence:
http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/

Once you are immersed in his writing and thinking, then you'll be ready to choose someone in our country or world today about whom Jefferson would have had an opinion. Then plan and write.