To Write the Thematic Essay– The Mongol Empire

E. Napp

Objective: To create an outline for a thematic essay and to write a thematic essay on the Mongol Empire

Do Now: What are two benefits of creating an outline before writing? ______

Analyzing the Directions So That You Think About Something to Write About:

  • What is the essay’s theme?

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  • Define the essay’s theme. ______
  • What is the first question students must address in the essay? ______
  • What is the second question students must address in the essay? ______
  • What is the third question students must address in the essay? ______
  • What is the suggested advice for the essay? ______
  • Prior Knowledge: Who were the Mongols? ______
  • Prior Knowledge: Where was the Mongol Empire located? ______
  • Prior Knowledge: Why did the Mongol use psychological warfare?______
  • Prior Knowledge: Why were the Mongols considered religiously tolerant? ______

Unlike a DBQ essay, a thematic essay does not have documents to help the test taker. As such, the test taker must have information from the class to help answer the question. The thematic essay reminds learners that some information must be memorized in order to excel on an examination. Of course, the best way to memorize information is to practice.

Since writing a thematic essay may be a new experience, let’s take a small step towards understanding what this essay question is asking. See if you can complete the following sentences below using the Word Bank:

  • The Mongols lived on the ______or dry, treeless grasslands of Central Asia.
  • The Mongols were ______, moving from place to place and herding animals.
  • The Mongols developed superior skills as ______and excelled at horsemanship.
  • ______Khan united the Mongols.
  • Loyalty and ______were expected of Mongol soldiers.
  • Mongol soldiers could ______for days on a few grains of rice and a cup of milk.
  • Mongol soldiers were trained to be tough and ______.
  • The Mongols conquered a ______empire.
  • The Mongol Empire stretched from the Pacific Ocean to the ______Sea.
  • Mongol armies swept over ______and Europe.
  • The Mongols were ______tolerant; they allowed conquered people to practice their own traditions.
  • The Mongols used ______warfare; people who resisted or fought the Mongols were killed or slaughtered.
  • The Mongols did not allow the conquered Chinese to work in high levels of government; they did not use the ______system.
  • ______Khan was the Mongol emperor of China.
  • ______Polo visited China during the Mongol rule of China.
  • The ______Dynasty was the Mongol Dynasty of China.

Now that we have an understanding of the theme and the task, let’s complete the outline below for our essay:

The Mongol Empire
  • How and why were the Mongols able to conquer a vast empire?

  • How did the Mongols rule their empire?

  • How and why did the Mongol Empire affect world history?

An outline provides a map for the writing of the essay. In the space below, write the essay:

The Essay:

Introduction:

______

Paragraph #1:

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Paragraph #2:

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Paragraph 3:

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Conclusion:

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