EXAMPLE FORMAT OF THE 7TH GRADE CBA ESSAY
Challenge/Thesis: How does a culture develop a way to protect and insure safety and enforce rule of law.
Response by cultures: (Europe=Knights / Japan =Samurais)
Paragraph#1 Introduction of challenge faced. Hook (3-5 sentences), thesis (1 sentence), projected plan (1
sentence that states the reasons/arguments) – save the elaboration for the conclusion
Hook (Ex) “A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.”(Greek
proverb) . In Feudal times, societies had to create military structure that would insure domestic security that would
last for generations. (3-5 sentences elaborating hook.) Thesis: Write a strong (debatable) statement that gives the
thesis.) Thesis: These cultures developed structures that protected their cultures, insuring safety and enforcing the
rule of law by… Ex#1: Europe and Japan both faced a unique challenge as it developed a way to defend and
protects it citizens. (Ex#2) Social boundaries and beliefs also necessitated the need for a strong a military class.
(Conclusion/Transition: (Example) How each of this these societies responded would help define the……
(Remember that each body paragraph should have the following format.)
Topic Sentence:/Example 1/Elaboration/Example 2/Elaboration/Conclusion/transition statement
Paragraph #2 Europe and Japan respond to the challenge. Example: (TS) In Europe society responded by creating
a unique group of highly skilled warriors who provided the necessary …….. (EX#1) With Europe reeling from the
numerous Viking attacks, the local lords of Europe realized the need for highly skilled warriors to protect them.
(Elaboration) They began to train nobleman who eventually become the warrior class know as Knights..(Great
place for an In-text citation) (EX#2) In Japan however it was the need to enforce rule of law that lead to the
development of Samurai… (Great place for In-text citation). (Elaboration) The Samurai were originally developed
as keepers of the peace, similar to the modern policemen. Conclusion/Transition: (Example) Both societies warrior
classes had many similarities and differences because……………….
Paragraph # 3 Similarities: Topic Sentence:/Example 1/Elaboration/Example
2/Elaboration/Conclusion/transition statement. Knights and Samurai had many similarities. Firstly they both had
to be of the Noble class, which meant (EX# 1 or EX#2 is a great place for an In-text citation)……Transition:
(Example) Even though the warrior class systems were similar they had many differences….
Paragraph # 4 Differences: Topic Sentence:/Example 1/Elaboration/Example
2/Elaboration/Conclusion/transition statement…(TS) The main difference between Knights and Samurai is that
they played a different role within their society, for example Samurais acted more like. (EX# 1 or EX#2 is a great
place for an In-text citation) (Elaboration)……Conclusion/transition statement: The Samurai’s and Knights serve
an essential role in the protection of the societies very similar to the ……………………………
Paragraph # 5 Conclusion and present day reference: Restate Thesis, Restate Plan, Final Thoughts ..Today we
seen the remnants of the need to enforce the rule of law just like the Medieval times however it is even more
important than then because……………………………………..