Social Studies
Informative Writing Piece
Social Studies
PROMPT:
Our unit essential question is What are civilizations and why do
they form? After learning about the earliest civilizations and
factors that shaped their establishment, you are going to apply
those factors to where people live today. Inform your audience
about a present-day civilization around the world and, using what
you have learned about ancient civilizations; explain why this
civilization has grown in this certain location. Finally, you will
share what the new civilization can learn from the old one which is
ultimately the point of studying history!
Big Picture Essay Format:
1st Paragraph: Where do people tend to live? (physical features,
climate, resources) Thesis: why do people live in your present day
civilization?2nd Paragraph: Ancient Civilizations (where did they
live in regards to physical features, climate, resources?)
(domestication, farming, irrigation, rivers)3rd Paragraph:
Present-day Civilization (for your city, what is the climate like,
where can we get resources, what physical features are
desirable)4th Paragraph: What can we learn from the past? (How can
you compare meeting basic human needs from ancient times to modern
day?) (What do we do now that is similar to what they did back
then?)5th Paragraph: Conclusion (re-state thesis) (sum up
essay)
Research and DiscoverResearch several present-day civilizations
from all over the world. Remember what factors make a
civilization.Use books from the libraryUse your devices (DDL
required)Use the classroom computersUse the classroom iPadUse your
prior knowledgeYour ChoiceChoose two or three present-day
civilizations that you would like to focus your prompt on.Have your
teacher approve your civilization.Make sure you are able to
complete the prompt using this civilization (you have resources and
prior knowledge of this civilization).VERY IMPORTANT: WHEN YOU
BEGIN GATHERING INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR CIVILIZATIONS (MODERN AND
ANCIENT) YOU MUST WRITE DOWN THEIR SOURCES.1st paragraph:
Objective: Introduce tropic Civilization: Where does it happen
and why?Think about the following questions and use them as a guide
to writing this paragraph:Where do people live?Why do they choose
specific locations? (Climate, physical features, resources)What are
basic human needs?Thesis: Make an assertion about your present-day
civilization.Alexandria, Kentucky is ideal for the development of a
civilization because of its physical features, abundance of
resources and mild climate.Refrain from beginning your essay with I
will talk about My essay is about etcBegin by stating what a
civilization is, why people choose to live where they live
(climate, physical features, resources), and then state why your
present-day civilization has flourished.
2nd paragraph:
Objective: Ancient CivilizationThink about the following
questions and let them guide you when writing this paragraph:What
are the patterns of settlement in ancient civilizations?River
civilizationsHow did they meet their basic needs?Tradehunting and
gatheringHow did they interact with the
environment?Farmingirrigation
3rd paragraph:
Objective: Present-day CivilizationThink about the following
questions and let them guide you when writing this paragraph:Why
was this civilization settled in its location?Refer to your
thesisHow do people meet their basic needs?Remember this is present
dayHow do people interact with their environment?How is the land
used today
4th paragraph:
Objective: What can we learn from the past?Think about the
following questions:Why do people settle in certain places?Learning
from mistakes meeting basic needsHow do people develop over
time?technology use of the land developments and advancementsWhat
patterns do you see in settlement over time?What do we do today
that is similar to ancient settlements
5th paragraph:
Objective: ConclusionThink about the following:Re-state
thesisState your thesis in a different way than you did in the
introduction paragraphSum up main point (essential question)Back up
your thesisRe-read the prompt and make sure this sums up your
answer to it
Peer Review
Read at least two classmates essaysCircle incorrect spelling and
mechanical errorsPut a question mark next to confusing partsWrite
comments where the author did a good job explaining and where the
author needs improvement (be specific)Discuss with the author where
they need improvement and where they were successful
Step 10: Revise and Edit
Using feedback from Peer Reviews, edit and revise your
essaySpellingGrammarPunctuationCapital lettersCorrect word form (to
and too, their there and theyre, etc.)Make sure you followed the
guideline for each paragraphDoes it make sense when you read
it?Read it again when you are finished to make sure it is
perfect!
Type final draft
Type your final draftSize 12 point fontUse a font that can be
read easily (nothing silly or curly)Black colorAdd a heading to the
first page of your paper (do not type it in the Heading area or it
will copy on all pages)Your Full NameDateInformative EssaySocial
Studies- RexroatYou must have an MLA style works cited pagePrint
and hand in on or before due date with rough draft paper clipped to
the back OR email final copy to
[email protected] and hand in rough draft on or
before due date.
