45 cloze sheets interactively present the entire text of Frederick Douglass' speech, "What, to the Slave, Is the Fourth of July?"

The language/meaning focused, "bite-sized" sections of text allow students to work with closely with the text, giving careful attention to the language to find the correct cloze insert from the provided word bank. This approach increases student comprehension, retention, and vocabulary – and provides a strong foundation for discussion and research on this core cultural text.

Ready-to-print, ready-to-distribute, ready-to-mark with marking keys included.

Note: Due to the challenging social themes and sophisticated allusions in Douglass' speech, this unit is recommended for a mature reader.

I hesitate to specify an age as some students have the necessary intellectual maturity and cultural facility at grades six or seven, while others will find the biblical, historical, and cultural allusions obscure even as university students.

Teachers should use discretion in assigning this text -- but, at the same time, not underestimate their students.