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EXPOSITORY WRITING—ESSAY OF DEFINITION—US HISTORY
Assignment: Write an essay of definition in which you explain a concept that is not easy to define. Use the following elements in your
essay: dictionary definitions, negative definitions (telling what it is not), comparisons, quotations (from primary or secondary sources).
Subject: What is nationalism? Is it a better theory of sovereignty than the Divine Right of Kings?
Purpose: To explain what the concept of nation/nationalism means in the context of modern history. This assignment is the beginning
of Unit I, Module 2 in which we will be discussing how the United States became a nation between 1783 and 1815.
Audience: Any person who does not understand what we mean when we use the term “nation” and related terms like “nation-state”
and “nationalism”.
Form: Academic Essay (5 paragraph essay form—intro—body—conclusion)
Voice: formal (use standard English not slang or text-message language)
Framing Questions:
 What information has my teacher already made available during the course?
 What is/are the most appropriate dictionary definition(s) for this/these concept(s)?

What are some synonyms/antonyms for this concept?

How are similar terms such as “nation” and “nation-state” related to the idea of nationalism?

What does my U.S. History textbook have to say about nationalism?

How has the concept been applied? Has it produced negative, positive or mixed results?
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Why is this concept so useful or appealing to those who believe in it?

Contrast this concept with others in its category (nationalism is in the category: theory of Sovereignty.). How is it different from
other theories of sovereignty?
Assessment Components
Turn in the following Items in this order on the due date.
1. This assignment sheet.
2. Pre-writing activities:
a. Definition Diagram see Writers Inc. p 49
b. Topic outline (including thesis at beginning and thesis restatement at end)
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3. Rough Draft w/ Response sheet for large scale revision—10 points
4. Final draft w/ 4 trait expository essay rubric.
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"As people identified with the nation, nationalism
became the most powerful force in modern history."
“Nationalism”, The New Penguin Dictionary of
Modern History 1789-1945, 2001 ed.
"Throughout history people have been attached to
their native soil, to the traditions of their parents,
and to established territorial authorities; but it was
not until the end of the 18th century that
nationalism began to be a generally recognized
sentiment molding public and private life and one of
the great, if not the greatest, single determining
factors of modern history." "nationalism." Britannica
School. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2014. Web. 4
Feb. 2014.
<http://school.eb.com/levels/high/article/117287>.
Nation =def. (Find dictionary definition) a stable,
historically developed community of people with a
territory, economic life, distinctive culture, and
language in common.
Nationalism =def. (Find dictionary definition) A
sense of national consciousness exalting one nation
above all others and placing primary emphasis on
promotion of its culture and interests as opposed
to those of other nations or supranational groups.
Important Facts
From Outlinne notes, PSDA notes and
summary
Nation (nation-state,
nationalism)
Negative Definitions (what it is NOT)
Divine Right of Kings
Supra national, cosmopolitan, or universal
one world government
synonyms or antonyms
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Outline format
Thesis: ____________________________________________________________________
I.
Topic sentence (1st element of concept): ______________________________
a. C.D. (Fact about topic): __________________________________________
b. C.D.: _________________________________________________________
c. C.D.:_________________________________________________________
II.
T.S. (2nd element of concept): ________________________________________
a. C.D. (Fact about topic): _________________________________________
b. C.D. ____________________________________________________________
c. C.D. ____________________________________________________________
III.
T. S. (3rd element of concept): ______________________________
a. C.D. (Fact about topic): ____________________________________________
b. C.D. _____________________________________________________________
c. C.D. _____________________________________________________________
IV.
Topic sentence (evaluation of how concept has been put into practice): _____
_________________________________________________________.
a. C.D. (Fact about topic): ____________________________________________
b. C.D. _____________________________________________________________
c. C.D. _____________________________________________________________
V.
Topic sentence (evaluation of concept in relation to other theories of sovereignty)
_________________________________________________________
a. C.D. (Fact about topic): _____________________________________________
b. C.D. _____________________________________________________________
c. C.D. _____________________________________________________________
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Restated thesis: ______________________________________________________________