CHA 3U1 – Grade 11 University Preparation Term Essay Rough Notes, Essay Outline, Student
Conferences
Rough Notes
The key to making effective research notes is to organize your research as you do it. This will save
you time and help direct your research towards areas that need more work. Rough Notes are more
than merely downloading and printing or photocopying documents and highlighting them. You
will have to show evidence of your rough notes during your conference.
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
As soon as you know your topic and have figured out the major argument/points or
subtopics of your essay, create a master list and number them. As you discover new
ones, add them to your list.
Create one research page for each major argument/point. As you research, put the
evidence, arguments, quotations, or ideas you find on the appropriate research page.
Always summarize what you find in your own words except for a few quotations you
might use. Put the author’s name, source title or web site, and page numbers in the
margin so that you can create footnotes for your final copy of your essay. This method
has several advantages. First, you will be less likely to copy the same information twice
from different sources as you can see what you already have on this major
point/argument of your essay. Second, by glancing at the different research pages you
can quickly see which need more work and which do not. Third, it gives you an ongoing
record for future footnoting of your sources of information.
Use your completed research notes to do a quick and easy first draft of your project.
First examine your final list of major arguments/points and decide what order makes the
most sense, then renumber the list. Second, read each research page and arrange your
notes in a logical order, then cross out those you do not need. You are now organized
and read to write and present your essay.
Essay Outline/Skeleton
Use this template or create your own in order to organize your essay and all of your major points.
For each Major point, you should have sub-points or supporting evidence. Each sub-point or
argument MUST HAVE a citation to your research. This should be laid out in your skeleton.
Student-Teacher Conferences
You will get an opportunity to meet with your teacher to discuss the direction of your essay. During
your conference, you will be required to present your rough notes as well as your skeleton in order
to go over your research thus far in the essay writing process. This is your opportunity to discuss
some concerns you may have. Be sure to schedule an appointment early in order to avoid
disappointment.
CHA 3U1 – Essay Skeleton Outline
Complete the following Essay Skeleton Template before meeting with your
teacher during your conference before proceeding to the next stage of your
research essay.
Thesis:
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Body Paragraph 1
Topic: __________________________________________________________
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Evidence #1 ______________________________________________________
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Source (Full Citation + Page number):
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Evidence #2 ______________________________________________________
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Source (Full Citation + Page number):
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Evidence #3 ______________________________________________________
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Source (Full Citation + Page number):
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Body Paragraph 2
Topic: __________________________________________________________
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Evidence #1 ______________________________________________________
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Source (Full Citation + Page number):
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Evidence #2 ______________________________________________________
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Source (Full Citation + Page number):
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Evidence #3 ______________________________________________________
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Source (Full Citation + Page number):
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Body Paragraph 3
Topic: __________________________________________________________
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Evidence #1 ______________________________________________________
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Source (Full Citation + Page number):
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Evidence #2 ______________________________________________________
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Source (Full Citation + Page number):
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Evidence #3 ______________________________________________________
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Source (Full Citation + Page number):
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CHA 3U1 – Grade 11 University Preparation American History: Rough Notes, Essay Outline and Student Conferences
Evaluation Rubric
Name: ______________________________________________________________________
Criteria
Grade
Rough Notes
(Thinking)
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.
- information and ideas
are arranged with a
limited degree of
completeness and
clarity
- no referencing of
quotations and
statistical information
- makes notes
summarizing a few of the
main points and
supporting details and
evidence
- information and ideas
are arranged with some
degree of completeness
and clarity
- incomplete
referencing of
quotations and statistical
information
- makes notes
summarizing some of the
main points and
supporting details and
evidence
- information and ideas
are arranged with a
considerable degree of
completeness and clarity
- somereferencing of
quotations and statistical
information
- makes notes
summarizing and
questioning the main
points and supporting
details and evidence
- information and ideas
are arranged with a high
degree of completeness
and clarity
- complete referencing
of quotations and
statistical information
- makes notes
summarizing,
questioning, and
commenting on the main
points and supporting
details and evidence
Essay
Skeleton/Outline
(Application)
Did not meet
expectations.
- Outline is
incomplete and
missing some
information.
- outline lacks insight
and continuity
- information is
inconsistent
- Student partially
fulfills few of the
outline requirements.
- Outline is somewhat
complete and
includes some
information.
- outline possesses
insight and continuity
- information is
somewhat consistent
- Student partially
fulfills some of the
outline requirements.
- Outline is complete
and includes most
information.
- outline possesses
insight and continuity
- information is
consistent
- Student completely
fulfills assignment
requirements
Student-Teacher
Conference
(Knowledge)
Did not meet
expectations.
- limited
understanding of
topics and subtopics
- Student’s outline
presents a superficial
development of
points, many of which
do not support the
thesis
- some understanding
of topics and
subtopics
- Student’s outline
demonstrates an
adequate
development of
points that support
the thesis
- considerable
understanding of
topics and subtopics
- Student’s outline
demonstrates
adequate
development of
points that support
the thesis
Student-Teacher
Conference
(Communication
Did not meet
expectations.
Student demonstrates
limited ability to
express their essay
arguments.
Student is unprepared
for conference.
Student demonstrates
adequate ability to
express their essay
arguments.
Student is somewhat
prepared for
conference
Student demonstrates
thorough ability to
express their essay
arguments.
Student is prepared
for conference.
- Outline is very
complete and
includes all necessary
information.
- outline possesses
tremendous insight
and continuity
- information is
extremely consistent
- Student completely
fulfills and goes
beyond assignment
requirements
- a thorough
understanding of
topics and subtopics
- Student’s outline
demonstrates a
logical, mature, and
thorough
development of
points that support
the thesis
Student demonstrates
superior ability to
express their essay
arguments.
Student is extremely
prepared for
conference.
Mark