U.S. History
Mrs. Pastor
10/07/14
Comparative Essay: What are the similarities and differences between the
founding, economy, and social structure of the Southern and New England
Colonies?
Essay due Fri, October 17, 2014
-Refer to your textbook pages 84-97 and your notes and handouts from Chapters 2&3 to gather
information about life in the Southern and New England colonies.
-Write an essay answering the previous question, and include the following elements in your work:
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
Introduction Paragraph
a. States your thesis sentence first and include a general overview.
i. 5 sentence MINIMUM.
ii. Sample thesis sentence: The Southern and New England colonies were both part of the British
Empire and had similarities in their founding, economies, and social structures, but they also had
many differences as well.
iii. Next in the introduction, include brief summary of similar and different reasons for founding,
types of economies, and types of social systems.
Paragraph comparing the founding of the Southern and New England colonies.
a. What was similar?
b. What was different? (For example, religion was a prominent reason for founding for one, and not really for
the other)
Paragraph comparing the economies of the Southern and New England colonies.
a. 5 sentence MINIMUM
b. What was similar? (For example, both were sources of materials for England)
c. What was different?
Paragraph comparing the social structures of the Southern and Middle Colonies.
a. 5 Sentence MINIUM.
b. Hint: Refer to your Social Hierarchies Chart (#21 in your notebook-back of Southern Colony notes)
Closing/Conclusion Paragraph
a. 5 Sentence MINIMUM
b. Restate thesis- in a different way than in introductory paragraph.
c. End with a comment on how these aspects possibly contributed to the later American Revolution and even
the American Civil War.
i. Hint about similarity: Are any of the colonists (Southern or New England) happy about all their
money going to England?
ii. Hint about difference: The existence of slavery in the South and not in New England- how did that
set the stage for Civil War?)
Papers may be typed or handwritten. If typed, use 12 pt Times New Roman Font, double spaced. If written, must
be NEAT, double spaced (skip lines in between) and only written on the front of paper in blue or black pen. MLA
format, with title: Comparative Essay.
EXTRA CREDIT WILL BE GIVEN FOR: ESSAYS TURNED IN EARLY (day before deadline) & ESSAYS THAT GO
ABOVE AND BEYOND THE MINIUM REQUIREMENTS