GRADE 10 MINI-ESSAY: THESIS FORMATION &
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Instructions: Complete the following questions and submit to moodle by due date.
Question:
1. For your question, give a brief overview of the topic (ie. 5W+ H; main issue / event;
potential three subtopics).
2. Write down your proposed thesis. Remember the thesis should be a definitive
statement of what the essay will prove. It must be argumentative and include the three
main arguments.
Thesis Example: Canada matured as a nation in World War One by winning the Battle
at Vimy Ridge, spearheading the Hundred Days and obtaining a separate and
independent seat at the Treaty of Versailles.
Thesis Checklist:
Thesis statement:
Is the thesis in ONE sentence?
_____
Is the thesis arguable (takes one side of an issue)? _____
Does the thesis include 3 arguments?
_____
3. Using the Citation Builder http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/citationbuilder/ and in proper
MLA format, provide Bibliography that includes a minimum of 3 sources, in which you
must have at least TWO of the following:






Scholarly journal or article (online)
Website
Book
Encyclopaedia / electronic media
Popular Writing (magazine or newspaper)
Primary Document
THESIS FORMATION & BIBLIOGRAPHY RUBRIC
Criteria
Thesis
Level 4
- thesis is
exceptionally clear,
(Thinking /
arguable, well
Communication) developed
-thesis uses parallel
structure
-thesis is a definitive
statement
-thesis makes a clear
reference to the
question and time
period
Bibliography
-proper, detailed
MLA format always
(Knowledge / used in alphabetical
Application)
order with all
sources shown and a
wide variety of
sources (4+ sources)
Level 3
Level 2
- thesis is clear and - thesis is somewhat
arguable
clear and arguable
-thesis attempts to -thesis needs to use
parallel structure
use parallel
-thesis is somewhat
structure
-thesis is a
definitive
-thesis makes some
definitive
reference to the
statement
question and time
-thesis makes
reference to the period
question and time
period
-mostly proper
-some errors in MLA
MLA format
format with most
used in
sources shown and a
alphabetical order variety of sources
with all sources
from 3 sources
shown and a
variety of
sources (3 sources)
Level 1
-thesis is weak
and lacks an
arguable position
-thesis need to
make reference
to the question
and time period
-lack of proper
format and
limited details
with many
sources missing
or incomplete