Following the Writing Process: Dynastic Cycle Short Answer Prompts

Following the Writing Process: Dynastic Cycle Short Answer Prompts

Asian History Name:

Date: Period

Following the Writing Process: Dynastic Cycle Short Answer Prompts

I. Short Answer Prompts: Please circle the one you want to address.

A.  What were the political/military/economic similarities across Chinese dynasties? Present one similarity and examples from two different dynasties

B.  What were the political/military/economic differences across Chinese dynasties? Present one difference and examples from two different dynasties

C.  Why did Chinese dynasties rise? Consider two dynasties and identify a theme (that cuts across political, economic and military factors).

D.  Why did Chinese dynasties fall? Consider two dynasties and make connections between political, economic and military factors.

II. Construct a mind-map that shows your ideas and examples regarding the short answer prompt.

III. Write a topic sentence that addresses the answer prompt and provides a clear overview of the ideas you will be presenting in paragraph.

#1 (political factor; one similarity; Yuan and Manchu)

Vague: Both Yuan and Manchu dynasties were similar politically.

Specific: One similarity between the Yuan and Manchu dynasties is that both dynasties featured nomadic tribes that adopted the Chinese bureaucratic system to govern China effectively.

#3

Vague: There were many military reasons why strong leaders were able to establish a new dynasty in Chinese history.

Specific: Strong leaders successfully established a new Chinese dynasty because they had superior weapons and a disciplined army that gave them a military advantage over their enemies.

#4.

Vague: There were many reasons why Chinese dynasties fell.

Specific: Chinese dynasties fell because the emperor acquired too much territory to govern effectively and levied too many taxes for war that led to peasant rebellions.

Write your topic sentence below and have it checked by your teacher.


IV. Create an outline of your arguments—write questions to help you think through what you will write. Be sure to follow the Point-Example-Explanation structure.

Outline:

I.  Topic Sentence

II.  Example 1

  1. Point:
  2. Evidence:
  3. Explanation:

III.  Example 2

  1. Point:
  2. Evidence:
  3. Explanation:

IV.  Closing Sentence

Sample Outline:

I.  Topic Sentence: The rulers of Yuan and Qing dynasties were weakened politically by rebellions from peasants and secret societies that saw them as corrupt rulers who exploited Chinese peasants.

II.  Example 1:

  1. Point: Peasants and secret societies opposed the rulers of the Yuan dynasty
  2. Example: the White Lotus Society Rebellion: What was the White Lotus Society? Who were their members? What was their purpose?
  3. Explanation: Why did they want to overthrow the dynasty?

III.  Example 2

  1. Point: Peasants and secret societies opposed the rulers of the Qing dynasty
  2. Evidence: Taiping Rebellion—Who were the Taiping rebels and what was their purpose? How did they rebel?
  3. Explanation: Why did the Taipings want to overthrow the dynasty?

IV.  Closing Sentence

Create your outline with questions here

Confucian officials who resented the Mongol rulers who discriminated against Chinese Confucian officials by ousting them from the central administrating openly supported peasant rebellions. They encouraged peasants to join secret societies, like the White Lotus society whose sole purpose became overthrowing the Mongols. Both Confucian officials and Buddhist monks of the White Lotus Society saw Mongol rulers as corrupt “foreign” rulers who neglected the welfare of peasants and believed that Mongol rulers should be overthrown.

Example 2: Taiping Rebellion—what was it? What did they want?

Explanation: Why did the Taipings want to overthrow the Manchu government? How did the Taiping rebellion show peasant resentment towards its rulers?

Conclusion: