Here's a fun (nerdy) exercise: compare Jefferson's draft of the DoI to the final version.
Draft:
http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/D/1776-1...ence/doitj.htm
Final:
http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/D/1776-1...ndence/doi.htm
The final linked here also has hyperlinks to the draft version where things are different.
Finally, if you want a good lesson on the DoI, look up something by Stephen Lucas -- I guarantee it will totally change your understanding of the DoI. This essay, for example, is stellar:
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/cha...ion_style.html