Ms. Cannistraci Name:_____________Date:________You must complete one of the following essays on geography. You may choose whichever one you wish. When you answer the essay please circle the essay you chose to answer.

Please remember to review the rubric.

1. THEMATIC ESSAY QUESTIONDirections: Write a well-organized essay that includes an introduction, several paragraphs addressing the taskbelow, and a conclusion.Theme: GeographyGeographic features have influenced the historical and cultural development ofcivilizations, empires, countries, and regions of the world.Task:Select three different geographic features and for each• Discuss how this geographic feature influenced the historical and/or culturaldevelopment of a specific civilization, empire, country, or regionYou may use any geographic feature from your study of global history. Some suggestionsyou might wish to consider include rivers, seas, oceans, rain forests, plains, mountains, deserts,islands, and monsoons.You are not limited to these suggestions.Do not write about the geographic features of the United States.

2. THEMATIC ESSAY QUESTIONDirections: Write a well-organized essay that includes an introduction, several paragraphs addressing the taskbelow, and a conclusion.Theme: GeographyGeographic factors have affected the development of nations and regions. Thesefactors have also promoted or hindered cultural diffusion.Task:Select two different geographic factors and for each

• Explain how the geographic factor affected the development of a specificnation/region• Discuss how that geographic factor promoted or hindered cultural diffusionYou may use any geographic factor from your study of global history. Some suggestions youmight wish to consider include deserts, rivers, mountains, plains, islands, irregular coastlines,straits, climate, and location.You are not limited to these suggestions.Do not write about geographic factors in the United States in your response

3. THEMATIC ESSAY QUESTION

Theme: Geography (How Humans Change Their Environment)Throughout global history, human societies in various nations and regions havechanged their physical environments to meet their needs. Societies have builtstructures, removed vegetation and resources, and modified the land to meettheir needs. These changes have often had different results.Task:Select two different nations/regions and for each• Explain why the society modified their environment• Explain how the people of that specific nation/region modified their physicalenvironment• Discuss the effect this modification had on that nation/regionYou may use any nation or region from your study of global history. Some suggestions youmight wish to consider include Middle East (modified the land), Africa (modified the land),Japan (modified the land), Great Britain (removed resources), South Africa (removedresources), Brazil (removed vegetation), China (built a structure), and East Germany (builtstructures).You are not limited to these suggestions.Do not select the United States or a region of the United States as an example in your answer.

Revised Generic Scoring Rubric - Appendix A

Appendix A: Revised Thematic Essay Generic Scoring Rubric (February 2004)

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

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 paper

* The term create as used by Anderson/Krathwohl, et al. in their 2001 revision of Bloom’s Taxonomy of Educational Objectives refers to the highest level of the cognitive domain. This usage of create is similar to Bloom’s use of the term synthesis. Creating implies an insightful reorganization of information into a new pattern or whole. While a level 5 paper will contain analysis and/or evaluation of information, a very strong paper may also include examples of creating information as defined by Anderson and Krathwohl.

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