Tuesday, January 15, 2013

U.S. History Midterm Essays


Section 4: Essay (10 points each):  Complete the required essay (with a star) as well as two other options listed below the required essay.  Students should type or handwrite responses as three well-written short essays that are at least a paragraph each.  Refer to the rubric below for more information. 30 points total.

*REQUIRED ESSAY: Compare and contrast the Union and Confederacy’s approach to
the Civil War as well as the effectiveness of these approaches.  Discuss the specific strategies, goals, and advantages of each side.  Finally, discuss briefly how effective these strategies, goals, and advantages were in regards to the length of and eventual outcome of the war.

Optional Essay Choices (choose TWO)
  1. Discuss two uniquely American values and their influence on the periods of time we have studied this semester.  How have these values been honored in the actions of the American people and influences the course of U.S. history?  How and why have these values been disregarded?  Are these values being honored today?
  2. Discuss the debate over Revolution.  Discuss both sides (for and against Revolution) of the debate with specific reasons and examples for both sides.  Discuss specific events and causes that led to the Revolution as well as your opinion of such events.  If you were alive during the time period, which side would you have been on and why?
  3. Discuss the debate over abolition.  Define the different degrees that people were for and against abolition, naming specific supporters/opponents.  Give multiple reasons on both sides of the debate as to why people were for abolition and people were against it.  How does this debate relate to another debate or debates that we in the United States have today?
  4. Discuss secession.  Why did some southern states decide to secede (give multiple reasons)?  Do you think that states should be allowed to secede from the Union?  Explain why or why not.  If yes, when, why, and how should that occur?  If no, what should the government do about secession (outline specific steps and relate them to our studies).

RUBRIC
  • 10 points =  Student clearly answers all parts of the prompt, providing multiple specific and relevant examples from his/her studies and/or observations.  Writing has a clear introduction (thesis in which an original argument is asserted), body, and conclusion.
  • 9 points =  Student clearly attempts to answer all parts of the prompt, providing some specific and relevant evidence from his/her studies and/or observations.  Writing has a clear introduction (thesis), body, and conclusion.
  • 8 points =  Student answers most parts of the prompt, providing relevant evidence from his/her studies and/or observations.  Writing has a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.
  • 7 points =  Student attempts to answer the main part of the prompt, providing somewhat relevant evidence from his/her studies and/or observations.  Writing has a clear introduction and body.
  • 1-6 points =  Student’s answer lacks clarity and/or organization discussed above.

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