Curriculum Area Project
9th Grade Thematic Essays & Graphic Organizers for Global History and Geography
East Meadow School District
East Meadow High School
Michelle Barnhill
Kristen La Rossa Campbell
July 2010
Social Studies
2010-2011 School Year
Abstract
Visual thinking can be expressed in many ways. Graphic organizers are one way for visual thinkers to arrange their ideas. These tools can be very helpful because they allow students to practice editing and organizing their ideas before writing a thematic essay. Graphic organizers encourage students to concentrate on key terms and focus on the connections between these terms. Organizers are also a worthy tool to review concepts and allow students to demonstrate their understanding. Students can easily make changes and examine multiple perspectives. In essence these organizers will help students to achieve clarity of thinking. Lastly, these organizers benefit students by helping them to develop the big picture of a topic and develop these ideas into a thesis statement. This CAP aims to create graphic organizers for the 9th grade curriculum and provide corresponding thematic essay topics.
Rational
Many students find writing a thematic essay a difficult task. Graphic organizers are an easy and logical way to help students organize a thematic essay. Graphic organizers can be used at any academic level to help organize an essay. Students who are at an advanced level can use organizers to help arrange prior knowledge and details to be incorporated into the thematic essay. Graphic Organizers can be easily altered for any students needs. This CAP is designed to provide teachers with many thematic essay topics and corresponding graphic organizers for the 9th grade curriculum. The essay topics and graphic organizers adhere to New York State Standards (2, 3, and 4).
Table of Contents
TOPIC / PAGEAbstract and Rational / 2
Table of Contents / 3 - 4
General Definitions / 5
Belief Systems essay
& graphic organizer / 6 - 7
Development of Civilization essay
& graphic organizer / 8 - 9
Achievements of an Empire essay &
graphic organizer / 10 - 11
Reformation essay & graphic organizer / 12 - 13
The Protestant Reformation essay & graphic organizer / 14 - 15
Absolute Monarchs essay &
graphic organizer / 16 - 17
Limiting Power essay &
graphic organizer / 18 - 19
Expansionism essay &
graphic organizer / 20 - 21
Warfare essay & graphic organizer / 22 - 23
Types of Government essay &
graphic organizer / 24 - 25
Economic Systems essay &
graphic organizer / 26 - 27
Turning Points essay &
graphic organizer / 28 - 29
World Travelers essay &
graphic organizer / 30 - 31
Art / Architecture essay &
graphic organizer / 32 - 34
Fall of Empire essay &
graphic organizer / 35 - 36
Languages essay & graphic organizer / 37 - 38
Geography essay & graphic organizer / 39 - 40
Movement of People and Products essay & graphic organizer / 41 - 42
Feudalism essay & graphic organizer / 43 - 44
Renaissance essay & graphic organizer / 45 - 46
The Growth of Multiregional Empires essay & graphic organizer / 47 - 48
Imperialism essay & graphic organizer / 49 - 50
Nationalism essay & graphic organizer / 51 - 52
Science and Technology essay & graphic organizer / 53 – 54
Economics essay & graphic organizer / 55 - 56
Conflict essay & graphic organizer / 57 - 58
Change essay & graphic organizer / 59 – 60
Environmental Problems / Natural Disasters essay & graphic organizer / 61 - 62
Important Literary Contributions essay & graphic organizer / 63 - 64
Cultural Isolation essay & graphic organizer / 65 - 66
Revolutionary Ideas essay & graphic organizer / 67 - 68
Works Cited / 69
HANDOUT: This is a list of vocabulary words that commonly appear in the directions or task of a thematic essay on Regents Exams and unit tests.
In developing an essay, be sure to keep these general definitions in mind:
(1) Define means to state the meaning of
(2) Analyze means to investigate or separate elements in order to provide detail about each element
(3) Compare and contrast means to describe similarities and differences
(4) Describe means to illustrate (show) something in words or tell about it
(5) Discuss means to make observations using facts, reasoning, and argument; to present in some detail
(6) Evaluate means to look at and judge the importance of
(7) Explain means to make an idea understandable; to give reasons for and results of
(8) Suggestions are examples to help you think of a topic, you are not limited to any of these topics
THEMATIC ESSAY QUESTION
Directions: Write a well-organized essay with an introduction stating the topic, body paragraphs that accomplish the task, and a summarizing conclusion.
In developing your essay, be sure to keep these general definitions in mind:
Define means to state the meaning of
Describe means to illustrate (show) something in words or tell about it
Theme: Belief SystemsReligious systems vary in different regions of the world and influence the cultural beliefs of people in the countries where these religions originated and areas where these ideas may have migrated (moved) to.
Task:
· Define: Religious belief system
· Identify two religious belief systems and for each religion:
o Name the country / region of origin
o Describe how this religious system influenced the cultural development of it country / region of origin
Suggestions:
Some belief systems that you might wish to consider include: polytheism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Legalism, Confucianism, Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Shinto, and Animism
You may use any example from Global History. Do not use the United States in your answer
YOU ARE NOT LIMITED TO THESE SUGGESTIONS
Guidelines:
In your essay, be sure to
Develop all aspects of the task
Support the theme with relevant facts, examples, and details
Use a logical and clear plan of organization, including an introduction and conclusion that are beyond a restatement of the theme
Adapted from Barron’s Let’s Review Global History and Geography - 2003
How has this religious system
influenced its country of origin?
Name of religion:
Place of Origin:
How has this religious system
influenced its country of origin?
Name of religion:
Place of Origin:
THEMATIC ESSAY QUESTION
Directions: Write a well-organized essay with an introduction stating the topic, body paragraphs that accomplish the task, and a summarizing conclusion.
In developing your essay, be sure to keep these general definitions in mind:
Define means to state the meaning of
Describe means to illustrate (show) something in words or tell about it
Theme: The Development of civilizationsCivilizations develop where geographic conditions allow people to live together in large cooperative groups.
Task:
· Define: Civilization
· Identify two different early civilizations and for each civilization:
o State the name of the civilization and identify its location
o Describe how each early civilization developed in its own unique way based on the civilization’s geographic location (geography)
Suggestions:
Some civilizations that you might wish to consider include: Any civilizations which flourished between 3000B.C. and 1000 A.D., including those located near river valleys, large bodies of water, on plains, plateaus or mountain ranges.
You may use any example from Global History. Do not use the United States in your answer
YOU ARE NOT LIMITED TO THESE SUGGESTIONS
Guidelines:
In your essay, be sure to
Develop all aspects of the task
Support the theme with relevant facts, examples, and details
Use a logical and clear plan of organization, including an introduction and conclusion that are beyond a restatement of the theme
Adapted from Barron’s Let’s Review Global History and Geography - 2003
Civilization #1 / Civilization #2Name of Civilization
Location of Civilization
Describe how this civilization developed in its own unique way based on the civilizations geography.
HINT: Think why would a civilization have chosen this location to settle in?
THEMATIC ESSAY QUESTION
Directions: Write a well-organized essay with an introduction stating the topic, body paragraphs that accomplish the task, and a summarizing conclusion.
In developing your essay, be sure to keep these general definitions in mind:
Analyze means to investigate or separate elements in order to provide detail about each element
Explain means to make an idea understandable; to give reasons for and results of
Theme: Achievements of empiresCivilizations can accomplishment and overcome great challenges in order to become successful empires.
Task:
· Identify two different empires and for each empire
o Analyze two achievements which helped the empire to thrive (succeed)
o Explain one challenge the empire was forced to overcome
Suggestions:
Some civilizations that you might wish to consider include: Any civilizations which flourished between 3000B.C. and 1700 A.D. Greek Empire, Roman Empire, Persian Empire, Byzantine Empire, Gupta Dynasty, Tang Dynasty, Song Dynasty, the Ummayad Dynasty
You may use any example from Global History. Do not use the United States in your answer
YOU ARE NOT LIMITED TO THESE SUGGESTIONS
Guidelines:
In your essay, be sure to
Develop all aspects of the task
Support the theme with relevant facts, examples, and details
Use a logical and clear plan of organization, including an introduction and conclusion that are beyond a restatement of the theme
Adapted from Barron’s Let’s Review Global History and Geography – 2003
Graphic Organizer:
Achievements of Empires
Directions: Complete the graphic organizer below by:
· Identify two different empires
· Analyze two achievements which helped the empire to thrive (succeed) for each empire
· Explain one challenge the empire was forced to overcome
NAME OF EMPIRE / ACHIEVEMENT #1 FOR EMPIRE / ACHIEVEMENT #2 FOR EMPIRE / A CHALLENGE THIS EMPIRE WAS FORCED TO OVER COMEEMPIRE #1
EMPIRE #2
THEMATIC ESSAY QUESTION
Directions: Write a well-organized essay with an introduction stating the topic, body paragraphs that accomplish the task, and a summarizing conclusion.
In developing your essay, be sure to keep these general definitions in mind:
Describe means to illustrate (show) something in words or tell about it
Explain means to make an idea understandable; to give reasons for and results of
Theme: The reformationThroughout history many religions undergo drastic changes, often resulting in a reformation (or reforming of the religion).
Task:
· Identify one reformation which occurred in global history
o Describe two causes which lead to the reformation (reform of religion)
o Explain one change that was made to this religion after its reformation
Suggestions:
Some reformations that you might wish to consider include: The Great Schism, Protestant Reformation, Sunni / Shiite divide, and Counter Reformation.
You may use any example from Global History. Do not use the United States in your answer.
YOU ARE NOT LIMITED TO THESE SUGGESTIONS
Guidelines:
In your essay, be sure to
Develop all aspects of the task
Support the theme with relevant facts, examples, and details
Use a logical and clear plan of organization, including an introduction and conclusion that are beyond a restatement of the theme
Adapted from Barron’s Let’s Review Global History and Geography - 2003
Graphic Organizer: Reformation
Directions: Complete the graphic organizer below by:
· Identify one reformation which occurred in global history
o Describe two causes which lead to the reformation (reform of religion)
o Explain one change that was made to this religion after its reformation
CAUSES of
Reformation:
Change made to the religion, after reformation:
THEMATIC ESSAY QUESTION
Directions: Write a well-organized essay with an introduction stating the topic, body paragraphs that accomplish the task, and a summarizing conclusion.
In developing your essay, be sure to keep these general definitions in mind:
Discuss means to make observations using facts, reasoning, and argument; to present in some detail
Describe means to illustrate (show) something in words or tell about it
Theme: The Protestant reformationThe Protestant Reformation was a chain reaction of events which began with humanist thinkers criticizing the Catholic Church, followed by the use of the printing press, which led to the Counter – Reformation (changes created by the Catholic Church).
Task:
o Discuss one reason humanist thinkers criticized the Catholic Church
o Describe one result of the use of the printing press had on the Protestant reformation
o Describe one reaction the Catholic Church took to stop the spread of Protestant religions during the Counter Reformation
Suggestions:
Some ideas that you might wish to consider include: Placing scholasticism (education) and logic before the church, disagreement on the authority of the Pope, idea of Purgatory, and language of Bible / mass.
You may use any example from Global History. Do not use the United States in your answer.
YOU ARE NOT LIMITED TO THESE SUGGESTIONS
Guidelines:
In your essay, be sure to
Develop all aspects of the task
Support the theme with relevant facts, examples, and details
Use a logical and clear plan of organization, including an introduction and conclusion that are beyond a restatement of the theme
Adapted from Barron’s Let’s Review Global History and Geography - 2003
Graphic Organizer: Protestant Reformation
Directions: Complete the graphic organizer below by:
· Discussing one reason humanist thinkers criticized the Catholic Church
· Describing one result of the use of the printing press had on the Protestant reformation
· Describing one reaction the Catholic Church took to stop the spread of Protestant religions during the Counter Reformation