What is a Thematic Essay A Thematic Essay

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 • • • Economic Systems Conflict 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 10 th Grade Thematic Remember to Read & Highlight ALL S. S. Keys 1 st Thing. Your Thematic Essay Topic 2 nd Thing. Your ‘To Do List’ for your 2 Body Paragraphs 3 rd Thing. Potential Choices and if the Essay has any Excludors

Thematic Essay Scoring 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Rubric Score of 5: = 100 • • Thoroughly develops all aspects of the task evenly and in depth Is more analytical than descriptive (analyzes, evaluates, and/or creates* information) Richly supports 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 theme Score of 4: = 80 • • 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 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 theme Score of 3: • • = 60 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 theme

Thematic Essay Scoring 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Rubric Score of 2: = 40 • • 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: = 20 • • 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 theme in a general way; OR includes no relevant facts, examples, or details; OR includes only theme, task, or suggestions as copied from the test booklet; OR is illegible; OR is a blank pape

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?

Theme: Change – Collapse of Government The sudden death of a ruler, a defeat in war, or a successful revolution has often led to the collapse of a government. Political, social, and economic changes have occurred as a result of the collapse of a government. Task: Select two situations where the collapse of a government has led to significant changes in a country or region and for each • Describe the historical circumstances that led to the collapse of a government • Discuss the political, social, and/or economic changes that occurred as a result of the collapse of that government You may use any situation from your study of global history and geography in which the collapse of a government led to significant changes in a country or region. Some suggestions you might wish to consider include collapse of Louis XVI’s government, collapse of the Tokugawa shogunate, collapse of Czar Nicholas II’s government, collapse of the Ottoman Empire, collapse of the Nationalist government in China [Guomindang], collapse of Batista’s government in Cuba, fall of Reza Pahlavi’s government in Iran, breakup of Yugoslavia, and collapse of the Soviet Union. You are not limited to these suggestions. Do not use the United States in your answer. IN-CLASS ASSIGNMENT IN GROUPS DESIGN A THEMATIC ESSAY DIAGRAM-AND WRITE A THESIS STATEMENT BASED ON THE TASK.