Ninth Grade Writing Standards

General Guidelines

All writing for history classes should include the following:

·  Use of correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation

·  Use of the simple past tense

·  Use of varied sentence patterns and vocabulary

Papers should be:

·  Typed

·  Double spaced

·  1” margins

·  12 point print size in a standard font

Do NOT use any of the following:

·  Personal pronouns

·  “In conclusion”

·  Reference to the paper itself

·  Abbreviations (on take home assignments)

·  Restating the question verbatim

·  Providing a laundry list of factual information

***Standards will be more rigid for assignments written in non-timed circumstances***

Types of Writing

  1. Identifications Paragraphs

·  should be well structured and written in complete sentences

·  should include an initial topic sentence with a brief who/what, where, and when

·  should include specific details about the person, place, or event

·  should end with the significance of the person, place, or event

(this counts the most in evaluating an identification paragraph and should answer the question “so what?” portion)

  1. Summary of a secondary source

·  Should include the name of the author and the title of the article

·  Should restate in the student’s own words the author’s thesis

·  Should explain in the student’s own words the major points the author uses to support his thesis.

  1. Thesis Driven Essay

Introductory Paragraph

·  Places the question in an historical context by beginning with background information

·  Provides a thesis, or opinion, on the question and addresses the question directly

·  Contains an “essay map” which elaborates on the thesis and reflects the content of the body paragraphs

Body Paragraphs (the number will depend on the topic and your thesis)

·  Begin with a topic sentence which is connected to the thesis and reflects the entire content of the paragraph

·  Provide evidence which is

Ample

Accurate

Relevant

Significant

Thoroughly developed

·  Build a cohesive argument by linking the paragraph to the thesis

Conclusion

·  Provides closure by pulling your ideas together

·  Synthesizes your position