“How to Guide for Thematic Essays”

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

Change• Neolithic Revolution -

11,000 years ago, people stop being nomads, develop farming, domesticate animals, permanent settlements resulting in civilization.

• Industrial Revolution - In the 1700’s in England, machines made goods replace hand made goods. This resulted in urbanization, working & living conditions, higher standard of living.

• The Agricultural Revolution started the Industrial Revolution

Change

• The Scientific Revolution - through the Scientific Method people learned to question the Church and ancient Philosophers.

• Geocentric, heliocentric theories.

• Copernicus & Galileo.

• The Enlightenment - People rejected monarchs and supported democracy. New ways of viewing authority,

power, government and law.

Change• John Locke -

Natural Rights (Life, liberty & Property.)

• Baron de Montesquieu Separation of powers in government to Judicial, executive and legislative.

• Voltaire - Freedom of press & religion.

• Mary Wollstonecraft fought for Women rights.

Turning Points• Christopher

Columbus Start European colonization of the Americas.

• Columbian Exchange is the exchange of foods, plants, animals & disease between Europe and America.

• Triangular Trade - Goods. Slaves and product are traded between Europe Africa and America.

French Revolution

• Starts with the Enlightenment in France.

• People demand representation.

• End the Monarch and try to create a democracy.

• Robespierre and “The Reign of Terror”.

Turning Points• Collapse of the Soviet

Union - the collapse of Communism in the USSR started the end of Communism in Europe.

• Mikhail Gorbachev policy of Perestroika brought freedoms to Soviet

people and markets.

Belief Systems

• Hinduism - 3,000 years old and is focused in India. Polytheism is the belief in

• more than one God. • Buddhism - The four

Nobles Truth. • Judaism -

Monotheistic belief that they are the chosen one.

• Christianity - Jesus is the son of God. Is Monotheistic.

• Islam - Five Pillars of faith and Mohammad is the founder.

Geography

& Environment

• Early River Civilization Early civilization grew up around rivers. They supply irrigation, power, transportation and protection. (Fertile Crescent)

• Archipelago - Island chains need raw materials, & great defense.

• Industrialization in Britain Britain's natural resources, river systems, canals, harbors and raw materials help the Industrial Revolution.

Industrial Revolution & the Environment

• New sources of energy often create new forms of pollution.

• Urbanization creates unsanitary cities.

• Disease increases in unsanitary conditions.

Economic Systems

• Traditional Economy - all needs are provided by farm.This uses the Barter System.

• Manorialism - Medieval system based on a manor and the villages that surround the land.

• Mercantilism - When your country builds up it’s money supply.

• This is done by exporting more than you import.

Capitalism vs. CommunismCapitalism - the factors of

production are owned privately and operated for a profit.

The United States & England

Communism - the factors of production are owned by the government. People can’t make business decision, only the government.

The Soviet Union & Communist china.

Political Systems

• Monarchy - Kings or Queen exercise central power. Absolute Monarch has divine Rights and total control.

• Feudalism - Europe & Japan in 1600 - 1800. Peasants belong to lords and pay taxes, work for defense and work on estate.

Democracy • People pick leaders through voting.

• All power is in the hands of the people.

• Guarantees freedom of press, religion, speech and assemble.

• Promotes individuality

• It is the government of The West today. This includes the United States.

• Democracy

Totalitarianism

• This includes Communism, Nazism, Fascism, Authoritarianism.

• There are no freedom.• People have no say in

government.• People do not have the

right of free speech, freedom of the press.

• Government control people with fear and violence.

Imperialism • Britain in India

British controlled India since 1700.

• British tried to destroy Indian culture.

• Gandhi led a peaceful nationalist movement

European Powers in Africa

Berlin Conference of 1845 divided up Africa.

Destroyed culture, family, history, language

Imperialistic Rivalry.

• Cause of World War I.

• Especially France and Germany.

• Conflict over territory in Africa and trade.

• Also, natural resources and markets.

Justice and Human Rights

• Code of Hammurabi - One set of laws for all carved on a pillar.

• First major collection of laws in history.

• Irish Potato Famine - blight killed potato crop in 1840’s.

Created widespread famine.British, who controlled the

island exported food as population starved to death.

Human Rights

• Tiananmen Square - In Beijing china, students help a protest.

• They demanded greater say in the government.

• Wanted more democratic government.

• Chinese government answered with tanks and guns. Killed many protester.

Science and Technology• Neolithic

Revolution Farming, permanent structures and society.

• Invention of the Printing Press. Mass production of literature.

• Higher literacy rate• Spread of political

ideas.• Spread of

Christianity.

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?

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!!!