“How to Guide for Thematic Essays”

Global History 9

Mr. Meetze

What is a Thematic Essay?

A Thematic Essay is designed to function as a Traditional Essay where the student is provided a specific Theme found throughout history and then is given choices to prove that they can identify and explain key people, events, or topics from the course which will be written on a ‘Final’ Essay Paper on the Final Exam

Thematic Essay Topics

• Belief Systems

• Change

• Citizenship

• Conflict

• Culture and Intellectual Life

• Decision Making

• Diversity

• Economic Systems

Thematic Essay Topics

• Environment and Society

• Factors of Production

• Human and Physical Geography

• Human Rights

• Imperialism

• Interdependence

• Justice

• Movement of People and Goods

Thematic Essay Topics• Nationalism

• Nation State

• Needs and Wants

• Political Systems

• Power

• Scarcity

• Science and Technology

• Urbanization

Rules for ALL Thematics

• How Many Paragraphs should Thematic Essays be?

• How many Documents do you need to cite in your Thematic essay?

• Can You use the Theme in your Introduction Paragraph?

Terms You Need to Understand

• Student Thoroughly addresses all Tasks

• Essay is More Analytical than Descriptive

• Richly Supports the Theme with Facts & Details

• Beyond a Restatement of the Theme

NYS Sample 10th Grade Thematic

1st Thing- Your Thematic Essay Topic

Remember to Read & Highlight ALL S.S. Keys

2nd Thing- Your ‘To Do List’ for your 2 Body Paragraphs

3rd Thing- Potential Choices and if the Essay has any Excludors

Thematic Essay Scoring 5,4,3,2,1 Rubric

Score of 5:•Thoroughly develops all aspects of the task evenly and in depth

•Is more analytical than descriptive (analyzes, evaluates, and/or creates* information)

•Richly supports the theme with many relevant facts, examples, and details

•Demonstrates a logical and clear plan of organization; includes an introduction and a conclusion that are beyond a restatement of the theme

Score of 4:•Develops all aspects of the task but may do so somewhat unevenly

•Is both descriptive and analytical (applies, analyzes, evaluates, and/or creates information)

•Supports the theme with relevant facts, examples, and details

•Demonstrates a logical and clear plan of organization; includes an introduction and a conclusion that are beyond a restatement of the theme

Score of 3:•Develops all aspects of the task with little depth or develops most aspects of the task in some depth

•Is more descriptive than analytical (applies, may analyze, and/or evaluate information)

•Includes some relevant facts, examples, and details; may include some minor inaccuracies

•Demonstrates a satisfactory plan of organization; includes an introduction and a conclusion that may be a restatement of the theme

= 100

= 80

= 60

Thematic Essay Scoring 5,4,3,2,1 Rubric

Score of 2:

•Minimally develops all aspects of the task or develops some aspects of the task in some depth

•Is primarily descriptive; may include faulty, weak, or isolated application or analysis

•Includes few relevant facts, examples, and details; may include some inaccuracies

•Demonstrates a general plan of organization; may lack focus; may contain digressions; may not clearly identify which aspect of the task is being addressed; may lack an introduction and/or a conclusion

Score of 1:•Minimally develops some aspects of the task

•Is descriptive; may lack understanding, application, or analysis

•Includes few relevant facts, examples, or details; may include inaccuracies

•May demonstrate a weakness in organization; may lack focus; may contain digressions; may not clearly identify which aspect of the task is being addressed; may lack an introduction and/or a conclusion

Score of 0:•Fails to develop the task or may only refer to the theme in a general way; OR includes no relevant facts, examples, or details; OR includes only the theme, task, or suggestions as copied from the test booklet; OR is illegible; OR is a blank pape

= 40

= 20

The ‘2 Liter’ Thematic Design?

Thematic Outline

First Take out a Sheet of paper

Quickly Draw a big Square, an Upside Triangle, & a Triangle

Within the Square divide the object into 4 sections using 2 lines.

Use Your Sample Outline

1st Title of Thematic Essay

‘Bottle Cap’ Write the Thematic Question

Define the Theme Discuss the Importance of the Theme to the

World

2 Body Paragraph

Topics

Open the ‘Bottle Cap’ Write the Thematic Question

Either Link Thematic to another topic or Relate the

Theme to life today

To Do List

a.

b.

c.

Outside Info

Brainstorm at least 6 specific facts

per Paragraph 7-10

Sentences Minimum

Intro- Min 4 Sentences

Conclusion Min 4 Sentences

THEMATIC ESSAY QUESTION Directions: Write a well-organized essay that includes an introduction, several paragraphs addressing the task below, and a conclusion. Theme: Culture and Intellectual Life Throughout history, many cultures have experienced a Golden Age when great advances were made in a variety of different fields including the categories of Art & Architecture, Engineering, Literature, Poetry, Math, Medicine, Science, and Trading.

Task:

Identify two different cultures that experienced a Golden Age. Describe the specific achievements of each culture identified. Explain how these achievements continue to influence the modern world

You may use any example from your study of global history. Do not use the United States. Some suggestions you might wish to consider include:

Babylon or the Chaldeans of Mesopotamia Gupta Dynasty in India The Han or Tang Dynasty of China Athens in the 5th century The Roman Empire during the Pax Romana Islamic Empire during the 9th Century in Bagdad

(You Must the Islamic Empire as One of your Choices for this essay only) Guidelines: In your essay, be sure to:

Address all aspects of the task Support the theme with relevant facts, examples and details Use a logical and clear plan of organization Introduce the theme by establishing a framework that is beyond a simple

restatement of the task, and conclude with a summation of the theme

Islamic Empire

A. Medicine- Specifically?

B. ???

C. Today

Your Choice

Reminder: 10-15 minutes

total on the Outline

Title of Thematic: Culture & Intelectual Life

To Do List Outside Info

A

B.

C.

Conclusion Min 4 Sentences

Intro- Min 4 Sentences

Brainstorm at least 6 specific facts

per Paragraph 7-10

Sentences Minimum

Writing the Thematic Reminders

1. Make sure the Intro and Conclusion does not consist of ‘This is What I’m Going to Do’ and ‘This is What I just Wrote’

2. Use your Outline for your essay. By doing so you address the clear plan and organization task of the question

Writing the Thematic Reminders

1. After you write a sentence make sure you can not ask yourself a Who, What, Where, When, Why, or How question. If so you didn’t write with enough depth

2. Be sure to use your outside to Analyse the Theme not just making a huge laundry list of information. Your To Do List NEEDs to be very specific!!!

Writing the Thematic Reminders

1. Check the grading rubric and self grade your essay 5,4,3,2,or 1 scale.

2. Did you address all aspects of the task?

3. Did you answer the question?