How do I answer these types of questions?
What does a document analysis quiz/test
look like?
How much do I have to write?
 Roughly 2 long paragraphs (1+ page)
What am I graded on?
 Use of specific details from the document and what
you have learned in class
 Paragraph organization—Topic sentence argument,
evidence in paragraph connects together
What happens on test day?
1.
1 minute reading period…no writing…READ RUBRIC
2. 5 minute planning period…outline answer…cannot
begin answer
3. Remaining time: writing answer in paragraphs
Rubric
Practice Step 2
Use your graphic organizer as an outline for each
paragraph.
1. Begin with a topic sentence.
2. Explain one piece of evidence from your own
3.
4.
5.
6.
knowledge and how it answers the question.
Explain a piece of the picture that relates to the
evidence from your own knowledge that you just
explained.
Explain another piece of evidence from your own
knowledge that supports your topic sentence
argument.
Discuss another part of the picture if possible.
Conclude by summarizing your main argument.
Using the graphic organizer to write a paragraph…
Europeans wanted colonies in the 1800s because
they were competing to become the wealthiest empire
in the world. They believed in the theory of
mercantilism which argued that there is a limited
amount of wealth in the world so in order to get more
gold, a country must export a lot of goods and limit
their imports. This motivated Europeans to get
colonies so they would have more customers to export
to. Mercantilism and the benefits of exporting are
shown in the lower left corner of the picture where
boats appear to have shipped boxes of European
products to the colonies…
(This is only half the
(This refers to the picture on the previous slide.)
paragraph. I would still talk
about the Industrial
Revolution.)
Writing Topic Sentences
Make an
Argument (not a list of arguments)
Writing Topic Sentences
Remind the Reader of
the Essay Question
Topic Sentence Check
The Topic Sentence Argument is the first sentence in
each paragraph. Below are questions to ask yourself about
your topic sentence.
 Does my topic sentence give an argument that directly
answers the test question?
 Does my topic sentence summarize all of the points that I
make in my paragraph while only making one argument?
(You should be able to say yes to both questions.)
Topic Sentence Check
Good Topic Sentence Examples:
One of the main reasons for the Europeans wanting to colonize other
countries in the 1800s was because the Europeans wanted to gain more
wealth and become essentially the richest and most powerful country.
Another main reason why the Europeans wanted to imperialize other
countries is because they wanted to help out the other countries.
Topic Sentence Check Questions:
 Does my topic sentence give an argument that directly answers the test
question?
 Does my topic sentence summarize all of the points that I make in my
paragraph while only making one argument?
Keeping Paragraphs Focused
Topic Sentence: Europeans wanted colonies in the 1800s
because they wanted to be the most wealthy and
powerful country in the world.
 Industrial Revolution
 Mercantilism
 White Man’s Burden
 Gaining land led to glory and power