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Rubric for your Middle Ages/Reformation/Renaissance Paper
Introduction
Requirement
Does your introduction start off in a style that is specific
Does it give introduce the era & give historical context
Does it transition to thesis
Does the thesis statement directly the answer the essay ? @ the power of the church and groups that challenged it
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Does it give an argument about WHY or HOW groups challenged the church or the church exerted its own power
Mongol rule was either positive or negative
Is your thesis statement clear and concise
Is your thesis statement 1 sentence (no semicolons!!)
BODY PARAGRAPHS
Topic Sentence
# Requirements
8 Does your topic sentence introduce the topic of the paragraph – (the group at hand)
9 Does your topic sentence make a connection to the essay question @ how this group challenged the church
10 Does your topic sentence introduce your argument about WHY/HOW your topic did or did not effectively challenge the church?
11 Does the argument in your topic sentence parallel (match) the argument in your thesis? (Do you make an argument that it was more beneficial than harmful or vice-versa in your topic sentence? Is this the same argument you make in your thesis?)
Description of Facts/Evidence
12 Do you transition from your topic sentence before citing your first example? (give background info/historical context)
13 Do you cite specific pieces of evidence to prove your argument? (including citations from textbook, class notes)
14 For each piece of evidence do you: explain the details/facts of that evidence(dates, names, purpose, etc.)
Analysis of Facts/Evidence
15 For each piece of evidence do you explain how it proves the argument in your topic sentence? (ie – if your topic sentence is that trade was mostly that the trade of gunpowder harmed the areas conquered
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At the end of the paragraph do you:
 tie all the evidence together under the topic of your paragraph (trade, military, etc)
 Relate this all back to the essay question @ how well or ineffective this group was a challenging the church
WRITING STYLE & ORGANIZATION
18 Is your paper in the past tense
19 Word choice: Do you refrain for awkward phrasing & vague/unclear statements? Do you have specific and sophisticated word choice? (also, do you edit OUT of your paper the following words: we, us, me, I, you, one, things, shows?)
Don’t ask any questions, only make statements
Do you use transitions and to sentences in each paragraph flow (no awkward jumps between ideas)
Is grammar correct
Do you refrain from using hypotheticals “if this would’ve happened, then . . .”, and do you refrain from overstating
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Organization:
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Does your paper (and paragraphs) start with the opposing argument and conclude with your ultimate argument?
B.
Does your paragraph follow the format of statement
C.
Do you refrain from being repetitive?
Quotes:
 fact/evidence  explanation  analysis?
 Are quotes sandwiched (quotes don’t start the sentence. The sentence after the quote provides analysis.)
 Does the sentence with the quote flow naturally & seamlessly