This interim assessment is from a 10th grade History class. The assessment is a four-page
(minimum) position paper on the French Revolution. The task is to develop an essential question
(or choose from a menu of questions), create a thesis statement, then support it with logical
arguments and relevant evidence.
The course on the "The Age of Revolutions" focuses in depth on two revolutions: the
French and the Haitian revolutions (while the traditional curriculum has students doing a cursory
study of several different revolutions). We choose breadth over depth; for example, instead of
studying several examples of European Imperialism at the turn of the 20th century, students
spend extensive time studying, researching, reading and writing about the Belgian imperialism in
the Congo.
The lessons leading up to this interim assessment included French Revolution content
lessons as well as lessons focused on the skills involved with writing a position paper. The
writing lessons included: how to create an essential question, evaluating thesis statements,
writing a thesis statement, gathering and evaluating research, when and how to cite information,
outlining a position paper and writing a concession. Below are the instructions that students
receive.
French Revolution Position Paper – Due Monday, November 15th
Outline due at the end of the period
For your second position paper you may choose any topic related to the French Revolution.
Below is a list of possible topics, but you may also choose to create your own. Look through
your notes and the documents in your history folder to help you decide the best topic for your
paper. The topic should be something that you can write at length about and something that
interests you. Start your outline by choosing or creating an essential question that your position
paper will answer.
Possible position paper topics (essential questions):
To what extent can the French revolution be considered a success?
Was Napoleon a hero, a tyrant or something in between?
To what extent did Napoleon fulfill the ideals of the French Revolution and to what extent did
he abort them?
Is Robespierre best described as a zealous tyrant or a passionate democrat?
To what extent does the French revolution fit Crane Brinton’s “mold” of revolutions in “The
Anatomy of a revolution?”
To what extent did the French Revolution fulfill the Enlightenment ideals?
Task:
Create a position paper that has a clear thesis statement and a well supported point of view. You
paper should include (not necessarily in this order):
1. A clear thesis statement that previews some arguments
2. Several arguments that supports your thesis (3-5 arguments)
3. Evidence (statistics, quotes, text, logical reasoning) to support each argument.
4. A concession
5. A conclusion
6. MLA in text citation and works cited page
It would be hard to create an A paper with well crafted and convincing arguments in less than 4
pages. This means double spaced, Times New Roman, 12pt font with 1 inch margins.