CHW 3M Mesopotamia or Egypt RESEARCH ESSAY
This is a research-based argumentative essay. You will work alone.
REQUIREMENTS:
o select a topic (max. 2 people per topic – essay to be written and researched separately)
– please note that this will become your general topic for your CCA essay
o research the topic using books. Notes must be in proper format: one page per source,
bibliographic information at the top, page numbers in the margin, notes in point form.
o as you research, narrow down your topic to three sub-topics
o come up with a thesis (argument) that can be supported by evidence
o prove the thesis in a 5-paragraph essay of at least 3-5 pages (double-spaced, computer
printed)
o use properly formatted footnotes to give credit to authors wherever needed for their
ideas, not just for direct quotations (minimum two footnotes per body paragraph)
o create a properly formatted bibliography of at least 4-5 sources other than the text or
any encyclopedia (maximum two Internet sites – check for reliability – get form from
teacher - and hand in paper copy of the website with the essay)
o participate in a peer evaluation/editing session of your rough draft (rough draft must
include footnotes and bibliography)
TOPIC CHOICES: [numbers in bold correspond to CCA essay topics]
1. Why was Mesopotamia so prone to rise and fall of ruling groups? (e.g., Sumer, Babylon,
Assyria, Chaldea) [11]
2. Hammurabi’s Code as a legal and social innovation [3,1,6,15]
3. Science and technology – areas such as medicine, arithmetic, astronomy, military
(innovations, uses, benefits in Mes. or Egypt) [7,14]
4. Process of educating scribes (role of the educated in Mes. or Egypt; how it was done; why it
was so important; role in promoting stability, benefits to society) [13, 1]
5. Development of writing in Egypt or Mes. [7]
6. Relationship between the state (government) and religion (theocracy, control, power in Mes
or Egypt) [8]
7. Role of women in society (Mes or Egypt) [4,6]
8. Times of progress - when were some times when Egypt was prosperous, unified, stable,
military dominant, etc.? (e.g., parts of New Kingdom ) [9]
9. Egypt’s foreign relations with other powers (how open or closed was it regarding trade,
tribute, diplomacy, war, etc.) [11, 12, 1, 2]
10. How much power did Pharaohs really have? Who helped them rule? [10]
11. Treatment and role of slaves and/or lower classes in Egyptian society [17,6,15]
12. Egypt wasn’t always unchanging. Choose an area (e.g., art, women’s roles) in which Egypt
did demonstrate change over time and develop an argument as to why and how. [2]
13. Role of literature in uniting Mesopotamian or Egyptian society [5]
14. Times of decline – when were some times when Egypt was not as prosperous, unified, or
stable? (e.g., times of civil war, foreign invasion, etc.?) [16]
EVALUATION:
Essay Rubric (K, T, A, C) – T process mark includes bibliography, notes, outline, rough draft,
peer evaluation
DUE DATES: (see summative plan)
 Good copy of essay must include rubric and title page with your name, teacher, course,
date and title; Internet reliability checks and paper copy of websites (if used)