First Semester Essay:
WV Studies Contrasting Governments
It is time
to write our first semester essay on government. Your essay will be a descriptive essay
contrasting the Federal Government (ch. 5) with the State Government (ch.6)
. It will consist of five
paragraphs. The first paragraph will be
your introduction started by your thesis statement then an overview of how you
will contrast the executive, legislative and judicial branches. The following three paragraphs will contrast
each of the three branches of the two governments one at a time. The final paragraph will be your conclusion.
In your conclusion you should highlight the similarities of the branches
further contrasting with your previous paragraphs. Information can be utilized from your notes
on chapters five and six or you can use information from the internet,
etc.
You must complete the chart on the back of this paper worth
50 points.
Your essay will be worth 100 points.
Your essay cannot be written in first person. ( no, “I am going to tell you about” “I think”
“You can conclude” , stuff like
that.
The following rubric will be used to grade your essay.
Rubric First
Sem. Essay. Use of first person
will automatically take off 30% from your total grade.
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1st paragraph- Introduction 5 sentences minimum, grammar correct, well
stated thesis, accurate support sentences-
20 pts. 3 to 5 grammar
mistakes, thesis somewhat problematic, some support sentences are not
accurate 15 pts. Inaccurate thesis, more than 5 grammar mistakes, support sentences do not support
thesis 10 pts. 5 sentence minimum not met- 5 pts.
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2nd paragraph- First branches contrasted 5 sentences minimum, grammar correct, well
stated topic sentence, accurate support sentences- 20 pts.
3 to 5 grammar mistakes, topic sentence somewhat problematic, some
support sentences are not accurate 15
pts. Inaccurate topic
sentence, more than 5 grammar
mistakes, support sentences do not
support thesis 10 pts. 5 sentence minimum not met- 5 pts.
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3rd
paragraph- Second branches
contrasted 5 sentences minimum,
grammar correct, well stated topic sentence, accurate support sentences- 20 pts.
3 to 5 grammar mistakes, topic sentence somewhat problematic, some
support sentences are not accurate 15
pts. Inaccurate topic
sentence, more than 5 grammar
mistakes, support sentences do not
support thesis 10 pts. 5 sentence minimum not met- 5 pts.
|
4th
paragraph- Third branches
contrasted 5 sentences minimum,
grammar correct, well stated topic sentence, accurate support sentences- 20 pts.
3 to 5 grammar mistakes, topic sentence somewhat problematic, some
support sentences are not accurate 15
pts. Inaccurate topic
sentence, more than 5 grammar
mistakes, support sentences do not
support thesis 10 pts. 5 sentence minimum not met- 5 pts.
|
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5th paragraph- Conclusion – Further contrasting by
highlighting the similarities of the three branches of state and federal government 5 sentences
minimum, grammar correct, well stated topic sentence, accurate support
sentences- 20 pts. 3 to 5 grammar mistakes, topic sentence
somewhat problematic, some support sentences are not accurate 15 pts.
Inaccurate topic sentence,
more than 5 grammar mistakes,
support sentences do not support thesis 10 pts. 5 sentence minimum not met- 5 pts.
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Complete the chart -
First Sem. Essay Contrasting governments
State and Federal governments.
Thesis statement ( write your thesis statement in the
next cell
>
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2nd paragraph - branch contrasted -
list - >
and contrasts.
Topic sentence:
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3 to 4 differences:
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3rd
paragraph - branch
contrasted - list -
>
and contrasts.
Topic sentence:
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3 to 4 differences:
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4th
paragraph - branch
contrasted - list -
>
and contrasts.
Topic Sentence:
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3 to 4 differences:
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Conclusion list
the similarities that you will state in your conclusion.
Topic Sentence:
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3 to 4 similarities
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