Free-Response Essay: Geography
of Texas (CAP)
EQ: How did geography affect the development of
Texas?
Choose three (3) of the fourlandform regions of Texas (Coastal
Plains, North Central Plains, Great
Plains, or Mountains and Basins),
and describe each region using the
following:
Location of the region
Natural resources
Crops
Economy of the region (How do people make
a living?)
Major cities in the region
Physical features of the region
Sample box outline using the regions
of the United States.
Regions of the United States – thesis statement and
three regions chosen-- Pacific Coast, the Intermountain
Region, Interior Plains.
Pacific
Coast
Location – far west U.S.,
Pacific coast
Natural resources – trees,
rivers, lakes, sagebrush,
cactus, tropical plants
Crops – fruits, vegetables
Economy – farming, lumbering,
oil refining, aviation
manufacturing, high tech
Major cities – Seattle,
Portland, San Francisco, Los
Angeles, San Diego
Physical features – highest
most rugged area of U.S.
mountains
Intermountain
region
Location – east of the Pacific
coast
Natural resources – desert
plants, grassland, trees, gold,
silver, copper
Crops – wheat, corn, using
irrigation
Interior Plains
Location – east of the
Intermountain Region from
the Rocky Mountains
eastward to the Appalachian
Mountains
Natural resources –
grassland, rivers, fertile soil,
oil, coal
Crops – wheat, corn
Economy – ranching, mining,
Economy – farming, ranching
Major cities – Salt Lake City,
Phoenix, Santa Fe
Major cities – Dallas, Chicago,
St. Louis, New Orleans
Physical features –
Mountain peaks, high plateaus,
deep canyons, and deserts
Physical features – flat,
treeless, plains, prairies
Conclusion – restatement of thesis listing
the three U.S. regions, closing sentence
Sample box outline using the regions
of the United States.
Body Paragraph #1- Pacific Coast
Location – far west U.S., Pacific coast
Natural resources – trees, rivers, lakes,
sagebrush, cactus, tropical plants
Crops – fruits, vegetables
Economy – farming, lumbering, oil refining,
aviation manufacturing, high tech
Major cities – Seattle, Portland, San
Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego
Physical features – highest most rugged
area of U.S. mountains
Sample box outline using the regions
of the United States.
Body Paragraph #2-
Intermountain region
Location – east of the Pacific coast
Natural resources – desert plants, grassland,
trees, gold, silver, copper
Crops – wheat, corn, using irrigation
Economy – ranching, mining,
Major cities – Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Santa
Fe
Physical features –
Mountain peaks, high plateaus, deep canyons,
and deserts
Sample box outline using the regions
of the United States.
Body Paragraph #3- Interior Plains
Location – east of the Intermountain Region from
the Rocky Mountains eastward to the Appalachian
Mountains
Natural resources – grassland, rivers, fertile soil,
oil, coal
Crops – wheat, corn
Economy – farming, ranching
Major cities – Dallas, Chicago, St. Louis, New
Orleans
Physical features – flat, treeless, plains, prairies
Sample essay - The Regions of the
United States
The seven landform regions of the United States
offer great contrasts. In some regions the land is
fertile and good for farming while in others the soil is
poor so other ways of living must be found. Three of
these regions include the Pacific Coast, the
Intermountain region, and the Interior Plains. Each
region is unique with regards to location, natural
resources, crops, cities, and physical features.
The Pacific Coast landform region begins in the
western part of the United States and borders on the
Pacific Ocean. The highest and most rugged part of
North America, it includes tall mountain ranges that
stretch from Alaska to Mexico. This area is blessed with
many trees, fast moving rivers, fertile soil, sagebrush,
cactus, and tropical plants. The temperate climate along
the Pacific makes this region good for farming, especially
fruits and vegetables. Lumbering is also an important
industry to this region. Commercial fishing also adds to
the economy of the area. Some of the most important
industries include high tech and aviation manufacturing.
Cities in this region include Seattle, Portland, San
Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego.
Sample essay - The Regions of the
United States
Moving eastward inland from the Pacific Coast,
one goes into the Intermountain Region of the
United States. It is a rugged region of mountain
peaks, high plateaus, deep canyons, and deserts.
The Grand Canyon, which is more than a mile deep,
and the Great Salt Lake are two natural features of
this region. Because the area is so dry, native
plants tend to be desert-like plants and trees that
have adapted to the area. People in this area farm
wheat and corn using irrigation and raise livestock.
Mining gold, silver, and copper are important
industries to this region. Salt Lake City, Phoenix,
and Santa Fe are among the major cities in the
Intermountain region.
Sample essay - The Regions of the
United States
Between the Rocky Mountains and the
Appalachian Mountains lies the Interior Plains.
This is the largest landform region in the United
States. This is a huge lowland area of plains
and prairies. This land was once covered with
vast grasslands with very few trees. Today,
farmers grow corn and wheat where the grass
once grew. Ranchers raise livestock on the
areas not planted by farmers. Oil and coal are
important natural resources. The oil and coal
mining industries provide much of the industrial
growth for this area. Farming and ranching are
the main economic activities in the Interior
plains. Dallas, St. Louis, and Chicago represent
some of the major cities in this region.
Sample essay - The Regions of
the United States
The physical regions of the
United States provide a wide variety
of landscapes. Each one is unique and
special unto itself. The Pacific Coast
region, the Intermountain region, and
the Interior Plains regions are
examples of how geography determines
the lifestyle of each of these regions.
Third Person Narrative: The
Language Arts/History
Connection
Expert Information:
Most social studies essays are written in third person
narrative. This refers to the pronouns that the writer
uses. It makes an essay stronger if it is based on factual
information (historical evidence) rather than just the
opinion of the writer. A real-world example of this same
idea can be seen in a courtroom. When a lawyer is talking
to the jury, his/her statements are stronger if they are
based on the facts of the case, not just the opinion of
the lawyer.
(Weak) “I believe Mr. Smith is innocent and could not
ever rob a bank.”
(Stronger)“The facts of the case show that Mr. Smith
was not in the city when the crime was committed.”
Third Person Narrative: The
Language Arts/History
Connection
Use these pronouns for
third person narrative:
*he*him
*she*her
*they*them
*it*its
*their*theirs
Do NOT use these:
*I*my *mine *me
*you*your
*yours*we*us
*our*ours
If the essay prompt asks for the opinion of
the writer, don’t use “I believe” or “I think”.
Instead, just write the opinion in third person
narrative.
(NO)I believe that the Coastal Plains region is
the most important region in Texas.
(YES)The Coastal Plains region of Texas has
the largest cities, the most natural resources,
and the mildest climate in the state of Texas.
1. Number your paragraphs (black)
2. First paragraph: underline your thesis statement (green)
3. First paragraph: underline your three landform regions (red)
4. Second paragraph, underline the landform region (red)
5. Second paragraph, underline the location, major cities,
natural resources, crops, economy and physical features (blue)
6. Third paragraph, underline the landform region (red)
7. Third paragraph, underline the location, major cities, natural
resources, crops, economy and physical features (blue)
8. Fourth paragraph, underline the landform region (red)
9. Fourth paragraph, underline the location, major cities,
natural resources, crops, economy and physical features(blue)
10. Fifth paragraph, underline your thesis statement (green)
11. Fifth paragraph, underline your three landform regions(red)
12. Fifth paragraph, underline your concluding sentence(brown)