1. Essay 101 How to write a thematic essay

2. Brainstorming and Planning Read the questions and highlight key parts of the task. Brainstorm—list all info you know about the topic (on a test) Box-it-Out Writing a Thesis

3. The Thesis A good thesis should… – KISS: Be clear and easy to understand (don’t be overly wordy or convoluted) – Your thesis should reflect all aspects of the task and both choices.

4. Clear and to the point Includes reference to both civilizations and features chosen Names the type of impact Sample: – The mountainous terrain of the Incan Empire and the cold climate of Russia had a significant influence on the economy and political development of both civilizations.

5. Outline of the Essay 1 st Section—Introduction – Start be introducing the theme. Give some general statement about why the theme (geography) is important. – End with your thesis (please underline). 2 nd Section—The Body – Focus on Civilization #1 and develop task 1 and 2. – Move on to Civilization #2 and develop task 1 and 2. – Do NOT separate by task (no hopping back and forth). Do all of Civ. 1, before moving on to Civ. 2! – Start each paragraph with a claim sentence 3 rd Section—Conclusion (connect to the big picture)

6. Sample Body Paragraph The Inca’s economy was greatly influenced by their economy. The Incan civilization was located in the Andes Mountains of Peru. Mountains are barriers that make it very difficult to farm and travel around. As a result the Incas lacked arable land to farm. To fix this the Incas developed terrace farming. They cut terraces, or steps, into the sides of the mountian to create flat pieces of land that they could then produce enough crops to feed their people. The mountainous terrain also made it difficult to travel around. The Incas built a system of roads through the mountains that were connected by suspension bridge. This allowed the Incas to move around and trade. With all of the crops they were able to grow on their terraces and good roads to trade the Incas have a very successful and prosperous economy. The Incas are a great example of a civilization that have geographic challenges, but they were smart enough to overcome them and be successful.