CHA 3U1 – Grade 11 American History University Preparation
Term Essay Topic Selection and Thesis Proposal Template
Please list the Essay Topic Number (#) and EXACTLY how the topic is written down in the
Essay Topic Packet:
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In a short paragraph, please explain what drew you to this particular topic or why exactly
you chose it for your term essay.
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Please write down your THESIS and explain what position you will take or what exactly you
will be attempting to prove in your essay. Your thesis should not be merely re-writing the
essay topic as it is listed in the Essay Topic Packet. Your THESIS should be attempting to
answer a YES or NO question and should be taking a clear arguable position on the topic.
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List 5 Sources you have consulted already to do some preliminary research on your topic
(you should have at least 1 BOOK source). If you have more, please feel free to use the
space provided to list your sources:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
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At this point, what do you think are the 3 MAIN arguments or pieces of evidence you will
discuss in your essay to prove your position? (this can of course change by the final writing
of your essay)
Argument #1
Argument #2
Argument #3
CHA 3U1 – Term Essay Topic Selection and Thesis Proposal Rubric
Name:
Criteria
Grade
Topic Selection
(APPLICATION)
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Level 0
49% or Below
Level 1
50% - 55%
Level 2
60% -65%
Level 3
70% - 75%
Level 4
80%-100%
Did not meet
expectations.
less than 3 different
resources were
consulted
information and ideas
are arranged with a
limited degree of
completeness and
clarity
- sources are not
clear, concise, and
properly formatted
4 different resources
were consulted
information and ideas
are arranged with
some degree of
completeness and
clarity
- some sources are
clear, concise, and
properly formatted
5 different resources
were consulted
information and ideas
are arranged with a
considerable degree
of completeness and
clarity
- most sources are
clear, concise, and
properly formatted
more than 5 different
resources were
consulted.
information and ideas
are arranged with a
high degree of
completeness and
clarity
- all sources are clear,
concise, and properly
formatted
Thesis Proposal
(THINKING)
Did not meet
expectations.
Student’s thesis is
an outline of points;
it is not an arguable
statement of
position
Student’s thesis is a
clear, arguable
statement of
position
Student’s thesis is a
clear and arguable
statement of
position that
answers a why or
how question
Topic Selection
(KNOWLEDGE)
Did not meet
expectations.
-- Limited
understanding of
topic is
demonstrated
- Poorly presented
evidence to
support thesis.
- Some
understanding of
topic is
demonstrated.
- Some evidence is
presented to
support thesis.
- Good
understanding of
topic is
demonstrated.
- Most evidence is
presented to
support thesis.
Thesis Proposal
(COMMUNICATION)
Student’s thesis is a
clear, arguable,
well developed,
and definitive
statement of
position. It
answers a why or
how question
- Excellent
understanding of
topic is
demonstrated - All
evidence
presented to
support thesis.
.
Did not meet
expectations.
- Writing is vague,
with a lack of effective
paragraph structure
and persuasive tone.
- Ideas are expressed
with limited logic,
unclear, and limited
sense of purpose
and/or audience
- Writing is somewhat
focused, arranged
logically with some
paragraph structure
and persuasive tone.
- Ideas are expressed
with some clarity,
keeping in mind a
sense of purpose and
audience
- Writing is focused,
arranged logically
with a consistent
paragraph structure
and good persuasive
tone.
- Ideas are expressed
with clarity and a
sense of purpose and
audience
- Writing is focused,
arranged logically
with effective
paragraph structure
and excellent
persuasive tone.
- Ideas are expressed
logically, with clarity
and a sense of
purpose and
audience
Mark