Answering an Essential Question
Essential Question
Part 1: Temporary Thesis Statement
1. Read the essential question.
2. Read through the primary document(s).
3. Write down a statement that answers the question based on
your first reactions to the evidence.
4. This statement is a temporary thesis and should help organize
and guide your argument. However, you may change your
thesis after analyzing the evidence.
Write your temporary thesis below:
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Part 2: Identifying Evidence
1. Read through the primary document(s).
2. Actively read the document—underline/highlight sentences that
you feel are related to the essential question.
3. Organize and analyze information in the chart below by writing a
sentence in each box.
UCI-CHSSP
Nicole F. Gilbertson/Matthew Rhyne
Spring 2005
Pre-Writing Chart
Evidence
Content—
Context—
Connections—
Conclusions—
Describe in
detail what you
see.
What is going
on in the world,
the country,
the region, or
the locality
when this was
created?
Link the primary
source to other
things that you
already know or
have learned
about.
How does the
primary source
contribute to
our
understanding
of the essential
question?
Commentary
Commentary
Analysis
Citation—
Who is the
author/creator?
When was this
created?
Evidence
Statement
Part 3: Topic Sentence
1. Look at the sentence you wrote in the “Conclusions” box. The
idea presented in this sentence should be the foundation of your
topic sentence.
2. The topic sentence should introduce the topic you are writing
about in the paragraph and should summarize the argument
you are going to make in the paragraph.
Part 4: Concluding Sentence
1. The concluding sentence should state your argument. Answer
this question: Does the evidence discussed in the paragraph
answer the essential question and support your temporary
thesis?
Repeat Parts 2-4 for each paragraph in the body of the essay
UCI-CHSSP
Nicole F. Gilbertson/Matthew Rhyne
Spring 2005
Part 5: Revising the Thesis Statement
1. Reread the body paragraphs paying particular attention to the
concluding sentences.
2. Answer the question: Do your concluding sentences refer to and
support your temporary thesis?
3. If your concluding sentences do not support the thesis and
answer the essential question, rewrite your thesis so it
supports your conclusions.
My
My
My
My
Thesis Statement Self-Check
thesis answers the essential question.
thesis can be supported by evidence.
thesis expresses one main idea.
thesis is on a historical topic.
Part 6: Introductory Paragraph
1. The introductory paragraph should be built around the thesis
statement.
2. The paragraph should be short and put the essential question
into historical context. The ideas presented in the content
standard for the unit may help you determine what is important
for the topic being researched.
3. Do not make statements that go beyond the time period, the
event, or the primary documents included in the research paper.
Focus on what you know and the evidence you have to support
your argument.
4. It is a good idea to write your introductory paragraph after you
have written the body of the essay.
Part 7: Concluding Paragraph
1. Restate the thesis in a way that demonstrates your arguments
have provided a response to the essential question.
2. The concluding paragraph should summarize the analysis of the
evidence in the body paragraphs.
3. Do not introduce any new topics or arguments that were not
discussed in the body of the essay.
UCI-CHSSP
Nicole F. Gilbertson/Matthew Rhyne
Spring 2005
UCI-CHSSP
Nicole F. Gilbertson/Matthew Rhyne
Spring 2005