Transcript Unit 2 Informative Essay Assignment and Guidelines

Grade 8 Social Studies
Informative Essay
Geography of Ancient China
Summative Task
Essential Questions for this Essay
These are the 3 things you will write about
• 1) Why did most people in ancient China settle in
the north China plain?
• 2) Why was China isolated from the rest of the world
during ancient times?
• 3) How and why did different cultures develop in
ancient China? (impact of geography on society).
***Remember that the era/context is ancient China
Learning Goals to be assessed
LG-1 Know the major geographic and demographic
features in the different regions of China
LG 2
Understand how geography and climate shape the
culture and development of societies
Learning Goals to be assessed
2 Writing Goals
Communication Goal
1. Can locate, evaluate, organize and process
information to develop and communicate ideas.
Research Goal
1. Can clearly communicate and support ideas with
well chosen evidence in written, oral, visual and
digital products, using MLA Guidelines.
Resources?
You must have a minimum of 4 different sources.
Resources: Use facts from the relief map, critical
thinking questions and activities you did from the Intro
to China pdf.
AND
• another credible source of your choice. Not wiki’s
Informative Essay?
What is an informative essay?
•
An informative essay is a form of writing that
teaches/informs/instructs the reader about a topic.
It should inform the reader of something new about a topic.
•
It’s about information i.e.., facts, supporting details, evidence
•
Best to use Third-Person Point-of-View (POV)
•
Write in the past tense because we’re writing what already
happened.
Avoid personal pronouns i.e., “I”, “me” & “I think” & “In my
opinion.”
•
•
What will you write about?
Your essay will cover three major items
related to geography:
1. Settlement
2. Isolation
3. Cultural Development
Settlement
1. Settlement in the North China Plain? Focus on why
people settled in this region. Give 2 Reasons
Describe and give 2 examples: use facts from the
map, critical thinking questions and activities you did
from the Intro to China pdf and another source of
your choice.
Isolation
2. China’s isolation from the rest of the world during
ancient times. 2 examples
Describe and give 2 examples: use facts about
geography, not political reasons. Use facts from the
map, critical thinking questions and activities you did
from the Intro to China pdf and another source of
your choice.
NOTE*** There were no airplanes, cars etc. focus on
how the geography affected isolation – not always a
human choice in ancient times.
Cultural Development
3. Cultural development in China? 2 examples.
• impact of geography on the people, their culture
Describe and give 2 examples: use facts from the
relief map, critical thinking questions and activities you
did from the Intro to China pdf and another source of
your choice.
How? Format?
Use the 5-paragraph essay structure.
Paragraph 1– Introduction/Theses/Hook
Paragraph 2 – Body: facts/supporting details
Paragraph 3 – Body: facts/supporting details
Paragraph 4 – Body: facts/supporting details
Paragraph 5 – Conclusion/Provocative question
Paragraph 1– Introduction
• A brief introduction identifying and describing the varied
geography and climate of China
• And, briefly explaining how geography affected ancient
society and use China as an example. Set the stage.
Give the reader a heads up about what to expect.
• Include a hook (A hook is a sentence or phrase in the
introduction that "hooks" or draws the reader in. Basically, it
makes them want to keep reading)
• State thesis (what you’re going to do in the essay/same
as your main idea).
Paragraph 2 – Settlement
Settlement in the North China Plain?
• use 2 facts about the geography of that region
Resources: Use 2 facts from the relief map, critical
thinking questions and activities you did from the Intro
to China pdf and another source of your choice.
Paragraph 3 – Isolation
China’s isolation from the rest of the world during ancient times
• Describe and give 2 examples.
• use geographic facts about isolation, not political reasons
• In ancient times isolation was rarely a choice but the result of
geography.
• Resources: Use 2 facts from the relief map, critical thinking
questions and activities you did from the Intro to China pdf
and another source of your choice.
Paragraph 4
Cultural Development
Cultural development in China?
• Describe and give 2 specific examples.
• Compare and contrast the 2 examples i.e., similar and
different
• use 2 facts about geography and culture
• impact of geography on people, their culture i.e., people in
the mountains live very differently than people on the coast.
Resources: Use 2 facts from the relief map, critical thinking
questions and activities you did from the Intro to China pdf and
another source of your choice.
Paragraph 5 – Conclusion
• Ties together: your intro/thesis main ideas
• Does not introduce a new topic
• Is not just a re-statement of the ideas.
• Can end with a question or a statement of some kind.
• Should leave your reader with something to think
about.
References Page?
Yes, you will need one!
• You must have a minimum of 4 different sources listed in
your bibliography. You already have the relief map,
Zoller’s video and the two textbook pdf’s as a sources –
your own notes do not need to be cited.
• You will need one additional source of your own
• Wikipedia is not a credible source for social studies
class and not for essay writing.
Classroom Resources List:
The textbooks, relief map & Zoller’s video info is below but you will need to
put in into correct MLA format for your essay references list.
Pdf’s:
1. History Alive – The Ancient World. Student Edition. Wendy Frey. Teachers Curriculum
Institute. Palo Alto, California, USA. 2004.
2.
The Rise of Chinese Civilization. Chapter 12. Grade 8 Social Studies classroom resource
pdf. AISG. 2013
2. Relief Map
History Alive – The Ancient World. Student Handbook. Relief map kit. Wendy Frey. Teachers
Curriculum Institute. Palo Alto, California, USA. 2004.
3. Video: Mr. Zoller’s Podcast on Geography of China
https://misterzoller.wordpress.com/category/video-podcasts/
How do I format my essay?
Use MLA format.
MLA means: Modern Language Association. It’s
basically the way you will format and style your essay.
See course Moodle for Writing Links for specifics and
links to MLA site & for a MLA sample essay.
MLA Web link here too:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/11/
Need help with writing an
essay?
• Check out the many VERY useful
links/guides/graphic organizers etc. on the Moodle.
Note the web based graphic organizer there.
• As well, look at the Library Moodle Page for help.
Assessment?
• Yes, it’s summative
• See rubric on the Moodle
• Due Dates:
• Submit Printed copy
Advice
Write smart:
1.
Get someone to proof read before you hand it in.
2.
Use spell check.
3.
Check the rubric and assignment guidelines.
4.
Check MLA format and style guide.
5.
Name, class/block, teacher name, Date: top left hand corner
6.
Each paragraph should be between 8 to 10 sentences. The intro
and the conclusion may be between 4 to 6.
7.
Print your essay double sided. No cover page. 12 Point font. No
bold. No underlining. No fancy odd fonts. Number the pages