Writing Instructions and Practices
Based on
Michael Henry’s work
US History Skillbook
Table of Contents
IDENTIFYING CRITICAL WORDS IN A PROMPT 4
DETERMINING WHAT DOCUMENTS MEAN 6
FOCUS ON QUESTION: WHAT IS IT ASKING 8
DETERMINING CREDIBILITY: WHOM DO YOU BELIEVE 10
WHICH QUESTION TO WRITE ABOUT? 13
MAKING INFERENCES FROM DOCUMENTS 16
PUTTING ANSWERS INTO A GRAPHIC ORGANIZER 18
USING DOCUMENTS TO SUPPORT AN ARGUMENT 20
ORGANIZING YOUR ANSWER: WRITING AN OUTLINE 22
DEALING WITH DOCUMENTS THAT CONTRADICT EACH OTHER 25
WRITING A STRONG THESIS STATEMENT 27
ANALYZING CHARTS 29
WRITING A POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE THESIS STATEMENT 31
ANALYZING POLITICAL CARTOONS 34
CREATING CATEGORIES TO ANSWER ESSAY QUESTIONS 38
USING DOCUMENTS AND CHARTS TOGETHER 40
SUPPORTING YOUR THESIS 45
USING DOCUMENTS AND CARTOONS TOGETHER 47
DEALING WITH ALL ASPECTS OF THE STATEMENT OR QUESTION 52
ARRANGING SOURCES INTO CATEGORIES 55
WRITING AN INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH 58
WRITING A PARAGRAPH FROM DISSENTING DOCUMENTS 60
WRITING A CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH 63
ORGANIZING A DOCUMENT BASED QUESTION 65
IDENTIFYING CRITICAL WORDS IN A PROMPT 3
DETERMINING WHAT DOCUMENTS MEAN 5
FOCUS ON QUESTION: WHAT IS IT ASKING 7
DETERMINING CREDIBILITY: WHOM DO YOU BELIEVE 8
WHICH QUESTION TO WRITE ABOUT? 11
MAKING INFERENCES FROM DOCUMENTS 14
PUTTING ANSWERS INTO A GRAPHIC ORGANIZER 16
USING DOCUMENTS TO SUPPORT AN ARGUMENT 18
ORGANIZING YOUR ANSWER: WRITING AN OUTLINE 20
DEALING WITH DOCUMENTS THAT CONTRADICT EACH OTHER 22
WRITING A STRONG THESIS STATEMENT 24
ANALYZING CHARTS 26
WRITING A POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE THESIS STATEMENT 28
ANALYZING POLITICAL CARTOONS 31
CREATING CATEGORIES TO ANSWER ESSAY QUESTIONS 35
USING DOCUMENTS AND CHARTS TOGETHER 37
SUPPORTING YOUR THESIS 41
USING DOCUMENTS AND CARTOONS TOGETHER 43
DEALING WITH ALL ASPECTS OF THE STATEMENT OR QUESTION 48
ARRANGING SOURCES INTO CATEGORIES 50
WRITING AN INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH 53
WRITING A PARAGRAPH FROM DISSENTING DOCUMENTS 55
WRITING A CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH 58
ORGANIZING A DOCUMENT BASED QUESTION 60
One of the most basic skills in essay writing is determining what the question is asking. As a first step, always look for the important components of the prompt. When examining a prompt ask three questions.
Every prompt will have these three elements. The time frame will either be stated very clearly or alluded to; a task will be given to perform; and the content area(s) will be apparent.
These are the most common content areas that essay question ask students to draw from as they support their arguments.
The following statement has been broken into its three components. After reviewing it, discuss the parts to make sure it is understood.
“Although the thirteen American colonies were founded at different times by people with different motives and with different forms of colonial charters and political organizations, the seeds of democracy grew in America. Assess the validity of this statement.”
Time—1607-1734
Look at the statement below and fill out the accompanying exercise. It will be discussed in class.
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DETERMINING WHAT DOCUMENTS MEAN
One of the critical skills necessary for success in this course is the ability to read and understand primary documents. This requires a basic understand of how to analyze a primary source. Eventually primary sources will be combined with other documents to argue a thesis in a document based question (DBQ).
Analyze primary documents in a consistent and systematic manner. Ask the four Ws.
When was it written? (time or setting)
Who wrote it? (authors)
What is it saying? (Limit this to no more than three major ideas—if not the document will be copied)
Where is the message directed? (audience)
Practicing the Skill
My friends, there is one great God and power that has made the world and all things. This great God has written his law in our hearts, by which we are taught to love help and do good to one another. Now this great God has been pleased to make me concerned in your parts of the world. the king of the country where I live has given unto me a great province, but I desire to enjoy it with your love and consent, that we may always live togther as neighbors and friends…I have great love and regard toward you and I desire to gain your love and friendship by a kind, and peaceable life…
--William Penn to the Delaware Indian Chiefs, 1681
