Name: _______________________________

Common Themes within a Historical Time Period

Identify and support a common theme within Americas society
during the early 20th century.
____________________________________________________________________________
Content Objective:
Students will identify an overarching theme of society in the United States during the early
20th century.
Students will identify evidence from two texts to support a common theme.
Language Objective:
Students will write a well-written academic essay using evidence to support their common
argument and theme for society in the early 20th century.
Students will write an essay using transitions, context, and developed clarification.
MN State Standards:
RL.11-12.9 Demonstrate knowledge of eighteenth-, nineteenth- and early-twentieth century
foundational works of American literature, including how two or more texts from the same
period treat similar themes or topics.
W.11-12.1 Write arguments that support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts,
using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
a. Introduce precise, knowledgeable claim(s), establish the significance of the claim(s),
and create an organization that logically sequences claim(s), counterclaims,
reasons, and, evidence.
b. Develop claim(s) and counterclaims fairly and thoroughly, supplying the most
relevant evidence for each while pointing out the strengths and limitations of both in
a manner that anticipates the audiences knowledge level, concerns, values, and
possible biases.
c. Use words, phrases, and clauses as well as varied syntax to link the major sections of
the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships between claim(s) and
counterclaims.
d. Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms
and conventions of the discipline in which they are writing.
e. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the
argument presented.

____________________________________________________________________________
Directions: Write an academic essay that analyzes a common theme during the
early 20th century in the United States using 6 strong pieces of evidence (quoted or
paraphrased) from multiple texts (The Great Gatsby or The Jungle).
Requirements:
-

Introduction: Attention Getter, Context, Thesis

3 Body Paragraphs: Clear transitions, topic sentences, supporting
evidence, and detailed descriptions.
o 6 supporting pieces of evidence
o Provide context for each quote
o Explain HOW the evidence helped you identify the common theme
(Clarification)
o Make clear connections between each quote

Conclusion: Restate main idea, summarize key points, connect to your

reader & modern society
MLA Format: Typed, 12 pt. font, Times-Roman, double space

DUE FRIDAY MARCH 6

100 pts.
Introduction
______/10

Argument &
Thesis
______/20

Evidence
______/20
Clarification
______/20

Conclusion
______/10

Transitions
______/10

Exceeds Expectations
(10 pts.)

Meets Expectations
(8 pts.)

Needs Improveme
(6 pts.)

The writer introduces the topic of The writer introduces the topic of
The writer introduces the t
his/her essay with general
his/her essay with general
his/her essay with gener
information that is closely
information that is somewhat
information that is not cl
related to his/her argument
related to his/her argument and that
related to his/her argum
and that grabs his/her readers
somewhat grabs his/her readers
that does not grab his/he
attention.
attention.
readers attention.
The writer provides basic needed The writer provides basic needed
The writer provides basic n
background knowledge that
background knowledge that
background knowledge t
smoothly transitions into
somewhat smoothly transitions into
not smoothly transitions
his/her thesis.
his/her thesis.
his/her thesis.

The writer identifies a strong

The writer identifies a somewhat
The writer does not identif
common theme present
strong common theme present
strong common theme p
throughout the USs early 20th
throughout the USs early 20th
throughout the USs earl
century and uses the theme to
century and uses the theme to
century and does not us
develop a strong argument.
develop a somewhat strong
theme to develop a stron
The writer includes a clear thesis
argument.
argument.
The writer includes a thesis with 3
The writer includes a thesi
with 3 clear & supporting
reasons.
supporting reasons, but it is unclear.
argument but does not
supporting reasons
The writers identifies 6 pieces The writers identifies 4-5 pieces of
The writers identifies 1-3
of evidence from multiple
evidence from multiple texts that
of evidence from multipl
texts to strongly support
somewhat strongly supports his/her
that somewhat strongly
his/her argument and theme
argument and theme as identified
his/her argument and th
as identified in the thesis.
in the thesis.
identified in the thesis.

The writer clearly connects how The writer somewhat clearly connects The writer does not clearly
the evidence supports the
how the evidence supports the
how the evidence suppo
thesis statement.
thesis statement.
thesis statement.
The writer uses context from the The writer uses minimal context from The writer does not use co
story to clearly explain each
the story to clearly explain each
from the story to clearly
piece of evidence.
piece of evidence.
each piece of evidence.
The writer restates the same
argument while not directly
repeating the thesis.
The writer summarizes the key
points in the essay.
The writer clearly connects the
topic to modern society.

The writer attempts to restate the

The writer restates the arg
argument, but changes the
but simply repeats the th
The writer does not accura
arguments meaning.
The writer somewhat accurately
summarize the key poin
summarizes the key points in the
essay.
The writer does not clearly
essay.
The writer somewhat clearly connects
the topic to modern soc
the topic to modern society.

Each citation is introduced with a Each citation is introduced with a

clear transition and/or
somewhat clear transition and/or
sentence starter.
sentence starter.
Each citation transitions
Each citation transitions somewhat
smoothly into the clarification.
smoothly into the clarification.

Each citation is not introdu

a clear transition and/or
sentence starter.
Each citation does not tran
smoothly into the clarific

Grammar &
Mechanics
______/10
______/100
Comments:

Each supporting idea & the

2 supporting ideas & the concluding
concluding statement begin
statement begin with an
with an introductory transition.
introductory transition.

1 supporting idea & the co

statement begin with an
introductory transition.

The writer uses complete

The writer uses complete sentences
sentences with no grammatical
with 1-10 grammatical errors.
errors.

The writer uses complete

sentences with 10-20
grammatical errors.