Over the course of my student teaching experience, I began to see the best way to approach certain topics and certain class groups most effectively. For example, I found that cooperative learning groups did not work as well for my ninth graders as it did for the tenth graders, because it was harder for the younger students to focus on the task at hand. As a result, my choices of materials sometimes reflected my choice of teaching methods. Despite some differences, I made an effort to include as many primary sources and visuals as possible in my classes, to provide students with a well rounded and balanced view of the topic at hand.
As mentioned in the previous section, I also used student data and feedback to design new assignments or to clarify the requirements of existing assignments. For example, I had to clarify the ninth grade research essay assignment several different ways, in order for most students to recognize the need to use in-text citations. One way I addressed this need was by integrating primary sources into lessons as “citation practice,” in which students would read a passage and respond to it in a short paragraph, followed by a correct in-text citation. Another way I clarified the requirements of this assignment was by offering lower-level students more guidance for writing in the five-paragraph essay format. Using these format guides allowed several students to succeed in this assignment who may not have been able to complete itotherwise.
The main type of primary source I concentrated on in Civics and World History is
political cartoons. These documents allowed students to get information on the topic in a
graphic format. The ninth grade World History students focused on political cartoons in their
imperialism unit, culminating in an assignment in which they drew their own cartoon depicting
the effects of imperialism in Africa or Asia. In civics class, political cartoons offered a simple
and graphic way to explain both historical and contemporary aspects of our government. For
example, when discussing the formation of the Constitution, we analyzed a cartoon from 1787
in which the Federalist/Anti-Federalist sides of the issue are illustrated. These primary sources
have served as a clear and simple way to illustrate many complex concepts to both ninth and
tenth graders, in many topics within Civics and World History.
Annotated Class Materials
Ninth Grade World History:
Vocabulary graphic organizer: This learning tool was used to help students build a better understanding of the vocabulary terms involved in imperialism. Ultimately, we ended up filling these out as a class, during our test review period.
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French Revolution Research Paper Assignment: This includes the preliminary assignment, the research packet, and five-paragraph essay format worksheet. These materials illustrate the different approaches I took in order for all students to achieve success with this essay.
Name_____________________________________ Date________________
French Revolution Research Paper Assignment
What you’ll have to do: Write a short research paper on the impact of an event or person on the French Revolution. Your paper should include an original thesis statement that is supported by three specific reasons. Essentially, your paper should answer the following question:
What was the impact of ____(your topic or person)____ on the French Revolution?
Length: This paper will be five paragraphs long. Each paragraph will have at least five sentences. Each sentence will have at least twelve words. This paper will be written in Times New Roman font, 12 point size.
Sources:
· You must use at least one Internet source and two book sources (not including your textbook).
· The end of your paper must include a bibliography that properly cites all of your sources.
· Within the text of your paper, you must use MLA style citations when quoting, paraphrasing, or summarizing information from any of your sources. We will review the proper use of MLA citations in class. The easiest way to avoid accidental plagiarism is to properly cite your sources.
Plagiarism: This paper must be written exclusively by YOU. Papers that contain plagiarism will receive a grade of zero and be referred to the office for disciplinary action.
The Final Product:
1. Title Page, including an original title for your paper, your name, class period, and date
2. Body of your paper, including a five paragraph essay (see length guidelines above and the next page for the format)
3. Bibliography
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Five Paragraph Essay Format
Paragraph One: The Introduction
· Explain the issue at hand and include some brief background information
· Clearly identify your thesis (in this case, briefly state your opinion of the impact your event or person had on the French Revolution in one sentence)
· Briefly introduce the supportive reasons you will include in the body of your paper
Paragraphs Two, Three and Four: The Body
· Begin each of these paragraphs with a topic sentence, such as: “One reason explaining how _________ had such a big impact on the French Revolution is…”
· Use at least one piece of specific evidence from your sources to support your thesis in each of these paragraphs
· Explain the specific evidence used in your own words, and clarify how it is significant.
· Finish with a closing sentence that concludes this specific argument.
Paragraph Five: The Conclusion
· Restate your thesis in your first sentence, such as: “In conclusion, ______ had a very big impact on the French Revolution.”
· Summarize your three supportive reasons in three separate sentences
· End with a concluding sentence explaining the significance of your argument.
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French Revolution Research Topics
People:
King Louis XVI
Marie Antoinette
Robespierre
Napoleon
Josephine
Prince Klemens von Metternich
Events:
The Great Fear
The Fall of the Bastille
The Tennis Court Oath
The Reign of Terror
The Napoleonic Code
Napoleon’s Invasion of Russia
The Battle of Trafalgar
The Battle of Waterloo
The Congress of Vienna
The Concert of Europe
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Name_____________________________________ Date________________
French Revolution Research Paper
Day 1: Researching the Textbook
My Topic Is:_____________________________________________________________
Part One: What do you already know about this topic? Make a list below.
Part Two: What do you need to find out? What should you be looking for? List all of the ideas or questions you need to find in the research process.
Part Three: Go to the textbook (Chapter 22, pages 558-589, or look up your topic in the index). Make a list of important things that can be used to write your paper.
Part Four: Answer the following question: What was the impact of ____(your event or person)____ on the French Revolution? Your answer could be the thesis statement of your paper.
Part Five: The Next Step
Read over Part Two again, and see which questions or ideas you weren’t able to find in your textbook. Make a list of the things you need to find out about your topic during our next two class periods in the library.
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Name_____________________________________ Date_______________
French Revolution Research Paper
Days 2 & 3: Researching in the Library
My Topic is: __________________________________________________
The final draft of this paper is due on: ______________________________
Remember while doing your research:
· Include only relevant information: Your job is to explain the main impact of your person or event on the French Revolution. Any information that has nothing to do with that will not help your paper, and may result in a lower grade. Stay focused on the thesis statement, including only information that supports it.
· You must include three body paragraphs, so you need three different ways in which your person or event shaped, changed, or led to the French Revolution.
· You need to think about how you can organize your research into the three categories reflecting the three different ways. Your research will not be organized that way; you will have to look through each source to find information that fits into your three ideas.
1) One way that my person or event had an impact on the French Revolution is:
List supporting details related to this idea:
2) Another way that my person or event had an impact on the French Revolution:
Provide supporting details related to this idea:
3) Another way that my person or event had an impact on the French Revolution:
Provide supporting details related to this idea:
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Name_____________________________________ Date________________
French Revolution Research Paper Outline
1) Introduction:
a. Brief background information:
b. Thesis statement:
c. Briefly state three reasons/ways:
i.
ii.
iii.
2) Body Paragraph 1
a. Topic of this paragraph:
b. Supporting details or related specific information:
i.
ii.
iii.
3) Body Paragraph 2
a. Topic of this paragraph:
b. Supporting details or related specific information:
i.
ii.
iii.
4) Body Paragraph 3
a. Topic of this paragraph:
b. Supporting details or related specific information:
i.
ii.
iii.
5) Concluding Paragraph
a. Restate thesis:
b. Summarize three supportive reasons:
i.
ii.
iii.
c. Concluding sentence explaining the significance of your argument:
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Five Paragraph Essay Format Worksheet Name: _______________________
Directions: Below you will find a sample essay format for you to complete with information from your topic. Use this worksheet to write your paper from after it is completed.
First Paragraph: Introduction. The purpose of this paragraph is to let the reader know why you are writing this essay and what you will include as your major topics.
The French Revolution was one of the most important events in history. (Add two or three more sentences of background information here.) _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________Many people and events affected the Revolution, such as _______(your topic or person)______. This is your thesis statement: This (event/person) (influenced/ started/ended/ worsened/ improved) the Revolution by _______________________________________________________________________________________________(reason one)__________________________________________________________________________________________________________, _________________________(reason two)______________________________________, and ___________________(reason three)________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Second paragraph: This paragraph introduces your first reason, mentioned above. It will contain evidence from your sources, and an explanation of each piece of evidence you include.
One way in which ____(your topic)________ (influenced /started/ ended/ worsened/ improved) the French Revolution is ___________(reason one from above)______. For example, in _______(name of one of your sources)_________, the author (use his or her name) states that ________________________________________________________________________________________________________(page number). This is important because _____________________________________________________________________. (Write another sentence here explaining how this source supports your reason). __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (Next, continue with another piece of evidence or a quote from your sources): Additionally, _____________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________, as seen in __________(name of source)_____________________________________________. (Write another sentence here explaining how this evidence supports your reason)._______________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________. (Now write a transition sentence, linking the topic of this paragraph with the next one). _____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________.
Third paragraph: This paragraph introduces your second reason, mentioned above. It will contain evidence from your sources, and an explanation of each piece of evidence you include.
Another way in which ____(your topic)________ (influenced /started/ ended/ worsened/ improved) the French Revolution is ___________(reason two from above)______. For example, in _______(name of one of your sources)_________, the author (use his or her name) states that ____________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________(page number). This is important because _________________________ ______________________________________________. (Write another sentence here explaining how this source supports your reason). __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (Next, continue with another piece of evidence or a quote from your sources): Additionally, ______________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________, as seen in __________(name of source)_____________________________________________. (Write another sentence here explaining how this evidence supports your reason).____________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________. (Now write a transition sentence, linking the topic of this paragraph with the next one). ___________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________.
Fourth paragraph: This paragraph introduces your third reason, mentioned above. It will contain evidence from your sources, and an explanation of each piece of evidence you include.
The last way in which ____(your topic)________ (influenced /started/ ended/ worsened/ improved) the French Revolution is ___________(reason three from above)______. For example, in _______(name of one of your sources)_________, the author (use his or her name) states that _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________(page number). This is important because _________________________________________________________________________. (Write another sentence here explaining how this source supports your reason). _______________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (Next, continue with another piece of evidence or a quote from your sources): Additionally, ____________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________, as seen in __________(name of source)__________________________________________________. (Write another sentence here explaining how this evidence supports your reason).______________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________. (Now write a transition sentence, linking the topic of this paragraph with the next one). ___________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Last Paragraph: The Conclusion. This paragraph will summarize all of your research and restate your argument. Remember to make it at least five sentences long. Add some more background information on your topic as it is appropriate.
In conclusion, _______(your topic)________ affected the French Revolution in many ways. (Restate your three reasons/ways here, using two or three sentences). _________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ I have shown this by introducing evidence such as _______(summarize some of your evidence here)_________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (End your essay with one or two sentences saying why you think it is important to understand the ways your topic influenced the Revolution. Can it help us understand wars and conflicts that are happening today? Can it help us understand other wars that happened in the past? How is this essay useful to your reader?)___________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
When you are done filling in this worksheet, use it as a model when you type up your paper. Remember the format you need to use: Each paragraph must have at least five sentences, and each sentence must have at least twelve words. Refer back to the assignment for the other requirements your paper must meet.
