Self-Evaluation of Essays

Highlighters - DBQ Green – Thesis Pink – Additional Document/Voice Blue – Groupings Orange – Evidence – using to prove your point not just showing understanding Yellow - POV

Things to keep in mind… This essay is about the DOCUMENTS – Don’t worry about weaving an intricate story – people who do this usually gloss over docs – Use the docs to tell the story. Paraphrase DON’T FOR THE LOVE OF HOLY THINGS QUOTE. OKAY?!?!?! DON’T QUOTE! You must directly talk about the documents and directly connect them to the point of the paragraph and thesis to earn evidence points!

Things to keep in mind… Use topic sentences to introduce the topic of that essay as it relates to your thesis – EX: “One reaction Africans displayed during the Scramble for Africa was…” – Okay but not ideal: “Documents X, Y, and Z demonstrate that Indian and Japanese mechanization of textiles was similar because…: – Don’t just jump into your analysis of the docs b/c without a topic you can’t prove anything to get evidence points

Things to keep in mind… POV – Must explain specifically how that person’s role at that moment impacts what they have to say. EX: “From the perspective of an African ruler who has the interest of his people in mind, he might be skeptical about the European’s proposal to make an agreement about land – Remember to attempt this EVERY paragraph

Things to keep in mind… Additional document – Must explain specifically what you want and specifically what new information it would provide. – Do not ask for a document that you already have. – Be aware of your essay topic – the document you ask for must help answer the prompt EX: Asking for a document about European reaction when the essay is about African reaction IS NOT helpful – Remember to attempt this EVERY paragraph

Highlighters - CCOT Green – Thesis Pink – Change Blue – Causation (Why something happened) Orange – Specific Concrete detail (people, places, events, items etc.) Yellow - Continuity

Highlighters - Comparison Green – Thesis Pink – Differences Blue – Causation (Why something happened) Orange – Specific concrete detail (names of people, places, events, items etc.) Yellow – Similarities DO NOT HIGHLIGHT ENTIRE SENTENCES!!

Thesis ACCEPTABLE Society #1 and Society #2 are similar/different because of _________ and similar/different because of this ________and this ______________. BETTER Although Society #1 and Society #2 are similar/different because of _____________ but the two and Society #2 are similar/different because of _________ and ______________.

Things to keep in mind… Each similarity or difference should be written about in its own paragraph with each of the societies/regions etc discussed in the same paragraph. Use topic sentences to signal the beginning of a paragraph and whether or not it is a similarity or difference. “ A common element between X and Y is…” “Although the X’s culture was polytheistic, Y’s culture encouraged the worship of a single god.”

Things to keep in mind… Analyze – WHY is something similar? WHY is something different?

Things to keep in mind… Support – Concrete detail (People, places, events, object, ideas, documents, pieces of artwork, buildings etc)

Things to keep in mind… Relevant direct connection: – Somewhere in your body paragraph AFTER your topic sentence you need to compare the two in the SAME sentence. “While X society had an egalitarian workforce, Y prohibited women from working outside of the home.

Things to keep in mind… Don’t start a sentence with “Which” or “Where as.” “The X wanted independence from their colonial oppressor. Whereas the Y wanted to retain their profitable colony at all costs.” NO!!! “The X wanted independence from their colonial oppressor, whereas the Y wanted to retain their profitable colony at all costs.”