Seminal Document Analysis

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Seminal Document Have you ever read something that made interesting points, and later shaped the way you thought? What was it that made you think differently? Texts like these are called seminal documents (A defining and historical document, that establishes or defines principles that shape the way others think or act). The “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” written by the UN Commission on Human Rights, and the “Texas v. Johnson Majority Opinion” by William J. Brennan are both examples of seminal documents. However, the “American Flag Stands for Tolerance” by Ronald J. Allen is not an example of a seminal document, instead it’s an editorial. You’re probably wondering what makes them seminal, and the other editorial. Well, the “Universal …show more content…
Johnson Majority Opinion.” Right at the start of this document formal language is used. “We decline, therefore, to create for the flag an exception to the joust of principles protected by the First Amendment…” (lines 1-2) Notice the academic vocabulary such as therefore, exception, joust, and principles. Most seminal documents are written using formal tone. The formal language in this document creates that formal tone. On the other hand, “American Flag Stands for Tolerance” does not use formal tone. For example, line 10 of the document uses the word “our”, and line 14 uses the word “we”. Formal documents rarely use first person, while informal do, so this contributes to the informal tone. The “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” uses lots of high-level vocabulary setting a formal tone. The first line in this document uses words such as “recognition”, “inherent”, and “inalienable”. Since, seminal documents use a lot of formal tone, we can assume that “Universal Declaration of Human Rights”, and “Texas v. Johnson Majority Opinion”, are seminal …show more content…
“Texas v. Johnson Majority Opinion” wants you to change your opinion on punishing people who burn the American flag as a way of expressing themselves. Lines 15-17 say that “forbidding criminal punishment for conduct such as Johnson’s will not endanger the special role played by our flag or the feelings it inspires.” This statement will make people think that just because one person burns a flag as a sign of revolt, doesn’t mean the whole world will revolt, and the flag will lose its special purpose. The “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” also has the same purpose of changing a person’s perspective on a subject. For example, the document says that equal and inalienable rights “is the foundation of freedom, justice, and peace in the world.” (Lines2-3) A person would think well if I want to gain freedom, justice, and peace then I should fight for human rights not just for me, but for everyone. Since a seminal documents purpose is to shape a country and its people, then these two documents can be considered seminal
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