Study Guide for Common Sense:
Common Sense is best understood by simply reading the pamphlet. It was written in plain language, meant to be read out loud and in public spaces such as taverns. It was first published on January 10, 1776, roughly six months before independence was declared, but quickly went through many reprintings, both in the American colonies and in Europe. Scholars have estimated it was one of the most well-known arguments made for independence at the time.
To learn more about Thomas Paine, the best place is to start with his writings. There are several collections available on Amazon and in book stores. Good biographies of Paine include:
Yuval Levin, The Great Debate: Edmund Burke, Thomas Paine, and the Birth of Right and Left
Seth Cotlar, Tom Paine’s America
Jack Kelly, Tom Paine’s War
Paul Collins, The Trouble with Tom: The Strange Afterlife and Times of Thomas Paine
Presentation Slides as a PDF
My History Notes 