Concise writing concerning Democracy

I've done quite a bit of work on my final essay, and the following are quotes that I'm using to make my argument.  However, they are also relevant beyond my paper because they embody the components and themes of Democracy that we have discussed this semester.

1. "On the contrary, I am persuaded that in the case the collective force of citizens will always be better able to achieve social prosperity than the authority of the government."  Democracy in America, Pg. 91.
2. "If we do not get out sleepers, and forge rails, and devote days and nights to the work, but go on tinkering upon our lives to improve them, who will build railroads?  And if railroads are not built, how shall we get to heaven in season?  But if we stay at home and mind our business, who will want railroads?  We do not ride on the railroad; it rides upon us."  Walden, "Where I Lived, and What I Lived For", Pg. 60.
3. "And like other American Dreams, the power in this one lay in a sense of collective ownership: anyone can get ahead."  The American Dream, "Dream of a the Good Life (II): Upward Mobility", Pg. 60.
4. "Social scientists in several fields have recently suggested a common framework for understanding these phenomena, a framework that rests on the concept of social capital.--By analogy with notions of physical capital and human capital--tools and training that enhance individual productivity--"social capital" refers to the features of social organization such as networks, norms, and social trust that facilitate coordination and cooperation for mutual benefit." "Bowling Alone: America's Declining Social Capital".

As I shifted through this semester's works, I was surprised by the amount of new terms that were introduced.  I did not use terms such as "voluntary associations" or "social capital" before this semester, and when I try to explain what we're learning about in class I'll use a term an confuse my friends.  I'm not sure if that concerns academia or if terms like those should be understood by all citizens.  I hope I'll have more clarity on the subject when my fellow classmates bring in quotes and prominent ideas form the semester.