NAME:________________________________
CLASS PERIOD:__________
Renaissance and Reformation Report Essay and Presentation
Directions: There will be two major grades for this unit. One will be a Mini-Test (No Writing)
which will be given on Wednesday March 20th. The second major grade will be this essay and
presentation. Listed below are twenty eight different people, events, and concepts that we will
be discussing throughout the unit. You will choose one that you would like to investigate and
learn about more in depth. There will be the option that if there is a topic not on this list that
you would like to study from the Renaissance and Reformation that you may, so long as it is
approved by Mr. Tellez. There are two parts to this assignment. One is a two page typed essay
on your chosen topic, the details for this essay can be found below. The second part will be a
short (2-3 Minute) Presentation on your topic. Not only is the presentation intended to inform
us more about you topic but your goal will also be to convince your audience why it is
important to learn about. Details for the presentation as well as essay can be found below. You
will have a total of three class days in the computer lab plus a weekend to complete this
assignment.
Topic List (CHOOSE ONE):
1. The Medici Family
4. Leonardo da Vinci
7. Francesco Petrarch
10. Albrecht Durer
13. Thomas More
16. Martin Luther
19.Henry VIII
22. Predestination
25. Presbyterians
28. Council of Trent
2. Humanism
3. Perspective (Art)
5. Raphael Sanzio
6. Michelangelo Buonarroti
8. Niccolo Machiavelli
9. Vittoria Colonna
11. Jan van Eyck
12. Desiderius Erasmus
14. William Shakespeare
15. The Printing Press
17. Charles V
18. The Protestant Movement
20. Queen Elizabeth I
21. John Calvin
23. Anabaptists
24. Anglican
26. The Catholic Reformation 27. Ignatius and the Jesuits
The Essay: Your essay, like your presentation, is intended to both be a report informing us
about your topic but also an argument as to why we should take the time to learn about your
topic. In other words what does your topic matter to modern day individuals like you and me?
Below is a brief outline of how your essay should be formatted and what it should include. At
minimum is should include two sources; one will be your textbook and another of your own
choosing. In the end you can use as many sources as you would like as long as you cite them
like you did in the Greco-Roman Paper.
Go on to the back 
NAME:________________________________
CLASS PERIOD:__________
Essay Outline:
1. Introduction: The introduction needs to clearly explain what your topic is and a brief
explanation of why you chose it (what interested you?). Your introduction should also
conclude with a thesis statement that states your argument as to why your topic is
important for us to learn about. The essay should be double spaced and 12 point font.
2. Body Paragraphs: In the main section of your essay you will do two things. First you will
spend some time going into more detail about your topic. What are its origins? What is
significant about it? Essentially what you are doing is a basic report informing us in
detail what your topic is all about. The second part of the main section is you backing up
the argument you made in your thesis. You want to spend the second half of your essay
trying to convince us (the audience) of why your topic is so significant and why we
should study it. You should end this section by explaining what impact your topic has on
us and the modern world today.
3. Conclusion: In your conclusion you will remind us once again what your argument was
in your introduction and provide us with a quick summary of the evidence you
presented. This section is essentially meant to tie both your report part and argument
part closer together.
The Presentation: The presentation is not meant to be an over the top presentation like the
civilization project was. What you are really doing is simply sharing your essay findings with the
class, Mr. Tellez, and any guests who decide to observe. You really have a lot of options and
freedom on this presentation. As the teacher grading the presentation I will be looking for two
key elements.
1. The presentation briefly and clearly informs the audience of what the topic is and why it
was chosen.
2. The presentation offers a clear argument as to why the presenter feels the topic is both
relevant to the modern world AND is important for us to study as students.
Presentation Format: The presentation can be in any form you would like. If you are unsure
though, please ask Mr. Tellez before doing it. The following are just a few suggestions of
formats that could be used. PowerPoint, Prezi, a persuasive speech (with or without an image
to go along), a video created by you, or any other format that is approved by Mr. Tellez.
Remember, the more time you invest in a quality essay, the easier your presentation will be to
assemble. YOU WILL HAVE THREE DAYS IN CLASS TO WORK ON THIS PLUS THE WEEKEND.
Presentations will take place in class on Wednesday March 27th for Thursday Workers and
Thursday March 28th for Tuesday Workers.