Three Gorges DamChina

Persuasive Essay: typed

Quarter 4 Assessment

Your assignment1. Complete a 5 paragraph essay

 The Three Gorges Dam in China is hailed as one of the major engineering feats of the century. The Three Gorges Dam after many years is now completed and operational.

To some, the engineering triumph of the dam is shown as a sign of progress. To others, the negative side effects of building the dam outweigh the benefits.

After researching the costs and benefits, you decide if the dam was worth it!

1.Sociologist: Moving from your home, community, or town can be a difficult task. Nearly 2 million were displaced as many areas of the dam were flooded. Discuss the experiences of the 2 million people who were displaced and whether the government was right or fair in making this decision.

2. Anthropologist:Large projects such as the building of the Three Gorges Dam can destroy archeological evidence of past civilizations. Burial grounds, ancient buildings, and many other artifacts are lost as a result of such projects. Why are these losses significant? Why is it important to learn about the past? What did the government do to recover or save some of the artifacts?

3. Environmentalist:The Three Gorges Dam will provide a large amount of energy with its moving waters (hydroelectricity). What resources will hydroelectric power replace? What are the costs and benefits of using hydroelectric as opposed to using fossil fuels for energy? What other environmental concerns revolve around the building of the dam?

4. Economist:The building of the dam cost an enormous amount of money. What is the benefit, economically, in building such a costly project? How will the dam help the people and the surrounding community? Will it provide a way to make revenue (money) or support jobs?

Paragraph 1: IntroductionWhat is the focus or purpose of your writing?

Paragraph 2: BodyGive your audience background information about the Three Gorges Dam. Answer why, where, when, and how.

Paragraph 3: BodyDiscuss the costs (cons) and benefits (pro) from the perspective of your assigned role (sociologists, anthropologists, economist, or environmentalist). Choose which you would like to address first; cost or benefit. Address a minimum of two.

Paragraph 4: BodyDiscuss the second aspect; cost or benefit. Address a minimum of two.

Paragraph 5: Conclusion Restate whether you think the costs outweigh the benefits, or the benefits outweigh the costs. You must support your position with evidence. Highlight the best examples.

4 3 2 1

FOCUS All paragraphs have a focus. Most paragraphs have a focus.

Some paragraphs have a focus. Few paragraphs have a focus.

CONTENT(Double)

Response includes all required information. The information is

accurate, provides abundant detail with supporting facts,

represents core material, and clearly addresses two benefits and costs. The response shows

a clear understanding of the topic.

Response includes most of the required information.

The information is accurate, provides sufficient detail

with supporting facts, represents mainly core material, and addresses

relevant benefits and costs. The response shows an

understanding of the topic.

Response includes some required information. The information

may lack accuracy, provides some detail with minimal supporting

facts, may represent trivial information rather than core

ideas, and addresses few benefits and costs with or without

relevance. The response shows limited understanding of the

topic.

Response includes limited required information. The

information may be accurate/ inaccurate,

provides little detail without supporting facts, lacks core

ideas, and mentions benefits and costs but fails to explain

relevance. The response shows limited to no

understanding of the topic.

ORGANIZATION Response includes an introduction that clearly states

the focus, a conclusion that incorporates the main ideas, and transitions connecting

ideas.

Response includes an introduction stating the

focus, but may lack some detail, a conclusion that

addresses the main ideas, and transitions connecting

ideas.

Response includes an introduction that lacks a clear

focus, a conclusion that addresses few of the main ideas,

and few transitions.

Response includes an introduction that lacks a

clear focus, a conclusion that addresses little to no main

ideas, and few to no transitions.

STYLE Response includes specific and interesting word choices. Writer

demonstrates a superior understanding of content

vocabulary.

Response includes some specific and interesting word

choices. Writer demonstrates a proficient understanding of content

vocabulary.

Response includes few specific and interesting word choices. Writer demonstrates limited

understanding of content vocabulary.

Response lacks specific and interesting word choices.

Writer does not demonstrate a clear understanding of

content vocabulary.

CONVENTIONS Response lacks spelling errors, uses correct grammar,

punctuation, and capitalization. Less than three errors.

Response lacks spelling errors, uses correct

grammar, punctuation, and capitalization. Three to six

errors.

Response has many spelling errors, uses some incorrect grammar, punctuation, and

capitalization. Seven to 10 errors.

Response has many spelling errors, uses incorrect

grammar, punctuation, and capitalization frequently. Ten

or more errors.

RubricThree Gorges Dam