Essay Writing

General format

Topic: Historical Writing

Objective: Students will be able to identify the main elements of historical writing and begin the writing process

Do Now: Use a Venn diagram to describe the differences and similarities of information vs. evidence:

HW: Complete graphic organizer and outline for Reconstruction Open Response on Friday

Bringing it all together…

How does the story of Ota Benga relate to our lesson on “race” and Reconstruction in the United States?

Information vs. Evidence What are the differences and similarities of

information and evidence?

Intro… Start with HISTORICAL CONTEXT: general

explanation of topic and any previous events or information that play a role or are important to know

CLAIM: answers essay question and/or is the general argument of your paper YOU have to PROVE your claim/thesis in your paper!

Then state the issue’s importance: why is this important to society, politics, the economy or the country as a whole.

Hook your reader!

Body…

4-5 sentences minimum

Topic sentence Warrant Element #1: Textual Evidence Warrant Element #2: Analysis Concluding/linking sentence

What Perfect Paragraphs look like… When editing, read your Open Response

to yourself and check for conventions and

FLOW! Coherence: does it belong here? Sequence: is it in the right order?

Conclusion…

Summarize Thesis (CLAIM) restated Omit new info Perspective: Your analysis (opinion) of this

issue’s overall importance in American History

Creating Claims

OutlinesI. Claim (argument)

A. Topic for Body Paragraph #1

1. Supporting Textual Evidence

2. Analysis

B. Topic for Body Paragraph #2

1. Supporting Textual Evidence

2. Analysis

C. Topic for Body Paragraph #3

1. Supporting Textual Evidence

2. Analysis

Activity…

Complete graphic organizer for essay and begin the outlining process for your Open Response on Friday!

Analysis…relate it to the claim Question 1: explain how the Black Codes, Jim

Crow laws, Plessy v. Ferguson affect AA (provide examples)

Question 2: explain how AA improved their lives through particular actions

Question 3: explain how a particular law, event, action caused Reconstruction to fail or become a success

Question 4: explain how the creation of race had an impact on America politically, socially, economically