How to Write a Thematic Essay

Read the Historical Context

• Notice the theme• Underline key ideas -– “intellectual”, “economic”, and “social”

Read the Task

• Identify how many tasks there are – the bullets help you identify it … but sometimes the question will ask you to do each bullet more than once– Original question said two revolutions – so would

have to do not two tasks but four– For this essay you just have to do the two

Choose your Examples

• Read the list at the bottom that gives suggestions. Do not always have to use them, but usually the best examples are provided. If choosing something off the list – be sure to ask instructor – there may be a reason you can not use it.– For this essay – you MUST do the Neolithic Revolution

• Brainstorm on separate paper key terms and ideas that could be used for several choices and then choose the ones that you know best to use.

Outline Your Tasks

• Create a mini chart in which you can check off each task that you do.

• Check them off as you complete themRevolution #1 Revolution #2

Change

Impact

Introduction

• First sentence can be a general “hook” into essay to get you interested

• Second and third sentence should be thesis in which you mention– the place(s) (do not say “in this essay I will cover”)– Each tasks of essay

– Provide one specific detail for each task – use word “such as” to help you out

Example

• There are many important turning points in history that has shaped the world. The Neolithic revolution from 10,000 to 6,000 BCE led to a CHANGE from hunting and gathering as a main way of food supply to domesticated plants and animals. This change IMPACTED the early river civilizations by leading to intellectual, economic, and social changes such as the rise of cities, barter economies, and complex government.

First Body Paragraph

• Your BEST example (does not have to be chronological)

• Topic Sentence – should identify the major idea of the paragraph (ex. “The neolithic revolution brought about many changes”) – should be generally vague.

• Should have SPECIFIC support for your paragraph – look for 5-6 vocab words

“Impact” Paragraph

• Craft Specialization & Social Stratificationa) Artisans such as pottist (pottery wheel),

irrigation, scribes, tool makers – hoes/sicklesb) Peasants vs. priest-kings (competition over

possessions), women less important for economy