Essays & Speeches

These study guides analyze powerful words that have shaped and reflected some of the most influential moments in history. Perfect for exploring the power and craft of rhetoric, this collection covers Henry David Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience, Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s Declaration of Sentiments, among many others.

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Natural World: Space & The Universe, Natural World: Environment, Life/Time: The Future

Tags Historical Fiction, Science / Nature, History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy


Publication year 1927

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Life/Time: The Past, Life/Time: The Future, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Society: Community

Tags Philosophy, Religion / Spirituality, Science / Nature, Philosophy, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2017

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race, Society: Class, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Race / Racism, Gender / Feminism, Politics / Government, Social Justice, Black Lives Matter, History: African , Sociology, History: World


Publication year 1946

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Art, Society: Politics & Government, Identity: Language

Tags Politics / Government, History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Biography


Publication year 1964

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Tags History: U.S., Civil Rights / Jim Crow, Race / Racism, Black Lives Matter, History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy, Social Justice, Classic Fiction, Politics / Government, Biography

Why We Can’t Wait is Martin Luther King, Jr.’s history of the Birmingham protests that took place in 1963 and his effort to explain the aims and goals of the Civil Rights Movement to a national audience. King explores the background of the protests in Birmingham, the importance of nonviolence as the primary approach to protest, how this approach played out in Birmingham, and the aftermath of the protests in an introduction and eight chapters... Read Why We Can't Wait Summary


Publication year 2020

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Identity: Mental Health

Tags Psychology, Health / Medicine, Self Help, Science / Nature, Psychology, Mental Illness


Publication year 1999

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Equality, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Self Discovery, Society: Nation

Tags American Literature, History: World, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Gender / Feminism, Philosophy, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), History: U.S., Transcendentalism


Publication year 2020

Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Emotions/Behavior: Memory

Tags Science / Nature, Animals


Publication year 2020

Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Class

Tags Humor, LGBTQ, Diversity, Gender / Feminism, Love / Sexuality, Biography


Publication year 1975

Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Education, Identity: Language

Tags American Literature, Self Help, Education, Education


Publication year 1974

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Identity: Indigenous, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Sexuality

Tags Mythology, Love / Sexuality, Gender / Feminism, Education, Education, History: World


Publication year 2021

Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health

Tags Race / Racism, Social Justice, Psychology, Self Help, Psychology, Mental Illness