Final answer:
The sentence 'This document changed the course of U.S. and world history in several ways' best concludes the introduction, specifying that the report will focus on the impact of the Declaration of Independence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student should add the sentence “This document changed the course of U.S. and world history in several ways” to the end of the paragraph to clearly state what the paper will be about. This conclusive statement not only references the content they’ve introduced – the Declaration of Independence and its drafters – but also sets the stage for discussing the broad impact of the document. It indicates that the report will analyze the far-reaching effects of the Declaration, rather than just its creation or its immediate reception.