Mesoamerica Essay
Over the next month you will be working on a multi paragraph essay about one of the three major
Mesoamerican Civilizations. Your first copy will be due Monday March 24th , your second copy will be
due Tuesday April 1st and your final copy is due Friday April 11th
Essay Topic: Select one of the three Mesoamerican civilizations ( Maya, Inca, Aztec) and write a research
paper based on the eight features of civilization.
Suggested outline:
Intro- Introduce Topic based on class discussion
8 Main Body Paragraphs- Each one should act as a mini research paper on the three civilizations
discussing one of the 8 features of civilization.
Closing- How does it end?
8 Features:
Writing, Religion, Job Specialization, Government, Social Class, Cities, Art & Architecture, Public Works
4
3
2
1
Organization
Information is very
organized with wellconstructed
paragraphs and
subheadings.
Information is
organized with wellconstructed
paragraphs.
Information is
organized, but
paragraphs are not
well-constructed.
The information
appears to be
disorganized. 8)
Quality of
Information
Information clearly
relates to the main
topic. It includes
several supporting
details and/or
examples.
Information clearly
relates to the main
topic. It provides 1-2
supporting details
and/or examples.
Information clearly
Information has little
relates to the main
or nothing to do with
topic. No details
the main topic.
and/or examples are
given.
Sources
All sources
(information and
graphics) are
accurately
documented in the
desired format.
All sources
(information and
graphics) are
accurately
documented, but a
few are not in the
desired format.
All sources
(information and
graphics) are
accurately
documented, but
many are not in the
desired format.
CATEGORY
Some sources are
not accurately
documented.
Mechanics
No grammatical,
spelling or
punctuation errors.
Almost no
A few grammatical
grammatical, spelling spelling, or
or punctuation errors punctuation errors.
First Draft
Detailed draft is
Draft includes all
neatly presented and required information
includes all required and is legible.
information.
Draft includes most
required information
and is legible.
Draft is missing
required information
and is difficult to
read.
Paragraph
Construction
All paragraphs
include introductory
sentence,
explanations or
details, and
concluding sentence.
Paragraphs included
related information
but were typically not
constructed well.
Paragraphing
structure was not
clear and sentences
were not typically
related within the
paragraphs.
Most paragraphs
include introductory
sentence,
explanations or
details, and
concluding sentence.
Many grammatical,
spelling, or
punctuation errors.
Focus or Thesis The thesis statement The thesis statement The thesis statement The thesis statement
names the topic of
names the topic of
outlines some or all does not name the
Statement
the essay and
outlines the main
points to be
discussed.
the essay.
of the main points to topic AND does not
be discussed but
preview what will be
does not name the
discussed.
topic.
Support for
Position
Includes 3 or more
pieces of evidence
(facts, statistics,
examples, real-life
experiences) that
support the position
statement. The writer
anticipates the
reader\'s concerns,
biases or arguments
and has provided at
least 1 counterargument.
Includes 3 or more
pieces of evidence
(facts, statistics,
examples, real-life
experiences) that
support the position
statement.
Includes 2 pieces of
evidence (facts,
statistics, examples,
real-life experiences)
that support the
position statement.
Includes 1 or fewer
pieces of evidence
(facts, statistics,
examples, real-life
experiences).
Accuracy
All supportive facts
and statistics are
reported accurately.
Almost all supportive
facts and statistics
are reported
accurately.
Most supportive
facts and statistics
are reported
accurately.
Most supportive facts
and statistics were
inaccurately
reported.
Transitions
A variety of
thoughtful transitions
are used. They
clearly show how
ideas are connected
Transitions show
how ideas are
connected, but there
is little variety
Some transitions
work well, but some
connections between
ideas are fuzzy.
The transitions
between ideas are
unclear OR
nonexistent.
Closing
paragraph
The conclusion is
strong and leaves
the reader solidly
understanding the
writer\'s position.
Effective restatement
of the position
statement begins the
closing paragraph.
The conclusion is
recognizable. The
author\'s position is
restated within the
first two sentences of
the closing
paragraph.
Sentence
Structure
All sentences are
Most sentences are
well-constructed with well-constructed and
varied structure.
there is some varied
sentence structure in
the essay.
Most sentences are Most sentences are
well constructed, but not well-constructed
there is no variation or varied.
is structure.
Audience
Demonstrates a
clear understanding
of the potential
reader and uses
appropriate
vocabulary and
arguments.
Anticipates reader\'s
questions and
provides thorough
answers appropriate
for that audience.
Demonstrates some It is not clear who the
understanding of the author is writing for.
potential reader and
uses arguments
appropriate for that
audience.
Demonstrates a
general
understanding of the
potential reader and
uses vocabulary and
arguments
appropriate for that
audience.
The author\'s
position is restated
within the closing
paragraph, but not
near the beginning.
There is no
conclusion - the
paper just ends.