Week 17 – Thursday – Regents Prep
AIM: What strategies can we use to complete a thematic essay?
DO NOW: What is a theme?
MINI-LESSON: Regents Style Thematic Essay
- Review past thematic essay topics, focusing on major themes that are repeated
- Review with students the “How to Write a Thematic Essay” format
ACTIVITY: 1. Theme Brainstorming
- Students will complete the graphic organizer chart which asks them to define themes that repeatedly show up on the Regents exam, as well as to give historical examples that connect to that theme
- Students should make note of which themes they have difficulty with and which are easy in order to guide their studying.
- Students will share out answers at the end of the activity
2. Mock Regents Thematic Essay Check
- Students will rate the thematic essay from their mock regents against a regents essay rubric, giving themselves a score
- Students will note which areas on the rubric they must improve on
SHARE: Which themes were the most difficult? Which were the easiest?
HOMEWORK: STUDY FOR THE REGENTS!!!!!
US History Name:
How to Write a Thematic Essay
INTRODUCTION
Step 1 – Copy the THEME
- Define the theme
- Add an outside sentence after each sentence within the theme
Step 2 – Name the TOPICS
- Name the topics that you will be discussing in your essay
Step 3 – Look at the TASK
- Remove the first word from the task and replace it with “This essay will…”
- Copy the remainder of the task
BODY PARAGRAPHS
Step 1 – Paragraph 1
- Define the first topic
- Rewrite bullet #1 in a statement and answer for the topic
- Rewrite bullet #2 in a statement and answer for the topic
Step 2 – Paragraph 2
- Define the second topic
- Rewrite bullet #1 in a statement and answer for the topic
- Rewrite bullet #2 in a statement and answer for the topic
CONCLUSION
Step 1 – Copy the THEME
- Add an outside sentence after each sentence within the theme
Step 2 – Summarize
- Write 2 sentences of summary for each paragraph in your essay
US History Major U.S. History Themes Name:
Theme / Definition of the Theme / 5 – 7 Historical Examples of the ThemeGeography
Domestic Policy
Foreign Policy
Reform Movements
Constitutional Amendments
Supreme Court Cases
Thematic Essay Topics
Thematic Essay Topics by Date
August 2007 - Contributions of Individuals to
American Life
June 2007 - Change (Industrialization)
January 2007 - Influence of Geographic factors on
Governmental Actions
August 2006 - Migration of Peoples
June 2006 - Turning Points
January 2006 - Controversial Domestic Issues
August 2005 - Cold War
June 2005 - Reform Movements
January 2005 - Foreign Policy Since 1900
August 2004 - Reform Movements
June 2004 - Geography and US Government
Action
January 2004 - Amendments to the US
Constitution
August 2003 - Foreign Policy
June 2003 - Events Influencing Social Change
January 2003 - Supreme Court Cases
August 2002 - Territorial Expansion
June 2002 - Supreme Court Cases Concerning Civil Liberties
January 2002 - Equal Rights
August 2001 - Constitution and Change/Flexibility
June 2001 - Equality
Thematic Essay Organized By Theme
Geography – January 2007 Domestic Policy – January 2006
August 2006
June 2004
August 2002
Reform Movement – June 2005 Turning Points – June 2006
August 2004 June 2007
June 2003
January 2002
June 2001
August 2007
Foreign Policy – January 2005 Government – January 2004
August 2005 January 2003
August 2003 June 2002
August 2001