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Students will use Google Docs for their writing. All notes will be taken in class (using books, websites, paper and pencil). It is very important to make sure all writing has been paraphrased to avoid plagiarism. We write three expository essays: Geography, Economy, and History; and one persuasive piece called the Tri-Fold Travel Brochure. Students draw maps and flags, and create a 3-dimensional model of something that the state is known for. The culmination of the report is the slideshow and oral presentation. This project starts in January and goes through May.
See below for each essay's directions, and links to the graphic organizers & grading rubrics
See below for each essay's directions, and links to the graphic organizers & grading rubrics
Geography Essay Directions (January/February)
Geography Essay Directions (January/February)
Introduction (paragraph 1):
This is written for you, as a model for an opening paragraph of an expository essay. It defines geography and previews each of the three body paragraphs.
Main Idea 1 (paragraph 2): Location
This is a cloze activity. It includes the region, the bordering countries, bordering states, and/or bordering bodies of water.
Main Idea 2 (paragraph 3): Physical Features
Include area in square miles and its ranking, the major rivers, mountains, deserts, lakes, bays, the highest and lowest elevations, natural resources, and climate. Minimum 5 sentences.
Main Idea 3 (paragraph 4): Man Made Features
Include general state population, the population rank, capital city, at least 2 more major cities, and information about a famous building or manmade landmarks in the state. Minimum 5 sentences.
Conclusion (paragraph 5):
This is a cloze activity. Include a referent for your state's name.
Click Here for the Geography directions, graphic organizer for notes, and grading rubric.
Economy Essay Directions (March)
Economy Essay Directions (March)
Introduction Paragraph (P. 1)
This paragraph will be written as a whole class paragraph (meaning we’ll all contribute in writing this paragraph and it will then be inserted into each student's wiki account). This introduction will start with a lead to get the reader's attention, then it will explain what an economy is, including that agriculture, manufacturing, services, fishing, and mining are important parts of each state's economy.
Main Idea Paragraph (P. 2) Agriculture
Start with a main idea sentence stating that agriculture is part of your states's economy.
Define what agriculture is (livestock and crops).
Include a minimum of 3 supporting sentences providing details about agriculture in your state (i.e sentences providing details about agriculture in your state (i.e. main crops and livestock products, location of farming regions, agriculture's cash or economic value to your state).
Main Idea Paragraph (P. 3) Manufacturing
Start with a main idea sentence stating that manufacturing is part of your states's economy.
Define what manufacturing is (changing raw materials into new forms).
Include a minimum of 3 supporting sentences providing details about manufacturing in your state (i.e.-military, food, textiles, technology, and manufacturing's cash or economic value to the state).
Main Idea Paragraph (P. 4) Your choice of one: mining, services, fishing
Start with a main idea sentence stating that _____ is part of your state's economy.
Define what ________ is (for instance, services are businesses that people carry out to serve other people--like, medical/dental, restaurants, hotels, sales...).
Include a minimum of 3-5 supporting sentences providing details about ______ , and its cash or economic value to the state.
Conclusion Paragraph (P. 5)
This will be written as a whole class paragraph (meaning we'll all contribute to write this paragraph together). The conclusion will make a reference to the strength of the state's economy and restate the main points of the essay in new/different words. It must use an original word referent to replace the state's name. It may be shorter than the introduction.
Travel Brochure & Persuasive Paragraph (April)
Travel Brochure & Persuasive Paragraph (April)
Title Column: This will be the cover of the brochure when it is folded. It needs to include the name of your state, your state's motto, a map of your state, and the number order in which your state joined the Union. It should be neatly lettered, correctly spelled and capitalized, and the use of space must be well planned to make it attractive.
Tourist Attractions: You will need a minimum of 3 tourist attractions for your brochure. This is 1 tourist attraction per column, for a total of 3 columns. If you would like to use 2 attractions in a column, that is OK, you will then have more than 3 tourist attractions. Each tourist attraction will need an image that fits in the column. The image can be hand-drawn or printed out from a website at home. If you print from the computer, remember to re-size it to 3 or 3 &1/2 inches wide. To inform potential tourists about this attraction, write 2-4 sentences that provide information. In addition, use a persuasive strategy to convince people that they should visit this attraction.
Persuasive Paragraph: Start with a Claim--state your argument. This persuasive paragraph that will be the centerpiece of your travel brochure. Use your knowledge of persuasion to state that claim and write at least 7 supporting detail sentences to convince people to visit your state. You will complete a rough draft first. On your final draft, ensure you have used complete sentences, and proofread for spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and grammar.
All your writing must be true, so please do not make up claims you cannot support. Use a variety of persuasive strategies rather than repeating the same one.
Below are Persuasive Strategies to use (learned in class) which are often used in advertising:
Logos-- Facts, numbers, and information can be very convincing
Pathos-- Getting people to feel happy, sad, or angry can help your argument
Ethos-- If people believe and trust in you, you’re more likely to persuade them
Kairos-- Try to convince your audience that this issue is so important they must act now
Research-- Using reliable research can help your argument seem convincing
Big Names--Important people or experts can make your argument seem more convincing
History Essay Directions (May)
History Essay Directions (May)
Paragraph 1: Introduction
Lead (use a great beginning strategy of an amazing/unusual fact, a quote, a statistic, a descriptive segment, an anecdote)
Topic Sentence(s) (Native Americans, European settlement, statehood, wartime, or/and famous people)
Paragraph 2: Native Americans
Main idea sentence naming the major tribes in your state's area
Native American lifestyles & their interaction with the first settlers
Paragraph 3: Europeans
Main idea sentence stating that Europeans came to the area to explore and settle.
First European explorers (you may see fur traders here) and first settlers of any kind
What it was like in colonial or territorial days, before statehood
Any other interesting history of the settlement
Paragraph 4: Statehood
Main idea sentence stating that this state became part of the United States
Date and rank of admission to the United States
How the state got its actual name
What the state nickname is and why it has that nickname (there may be several)
Explanation of image on the state quarter
Any other information that fits the statehood idea
Paragraph 5: Wartime Events
Main idea sentence stating that this state has been involved in wars or battles
Possible wars fought in your state:
Pontiac’s Rebellion
French and Indian War
American Revolutionary
Civil War battles (slave state (or not)? Union or Confederate?
War of 1812 (Battle of New Orleans)
Mexican American War (1843-1848)
Paragraph __: Famous People (for those states with little wartime information, or as extra credit)
Main idea sentence stating that several famous people have come from this state
Tell about at least three famous people (hopefully some are historical people) associated with your state and what they accomplished
Last Paragraph: Conclusion
Restate in new words the topic sentence(s),
Use a word referent for your state’s name
Tell how this state is important to the country (this is important for closing this essay!)
Click here for the history directions, grading rubric, and graphic organizer for notes.
You will present your state report using Google presentation slides. Enrich your presentation by completing and sharing from one of the extension ideas below. Plan to teach the class by talking about your state for 15ish minutes. You may have more time if you like (so long as you stay interesting, you can have all day☺).
Ideas for extension projects:
Ideas for extension projects:
Dramatize the life of a historical figure who played a part in the history of your state. Dress in costume (optional), speak in the first person, and orally present a summary of your life and achievements.
Cook and present a favorite recipe from your state or region. Insert the recipe into your slides. Discuss the origin of the recipe or the main flavor ingredients used in the recipe. Please provide napkins, plates, utensils (whatever is necessary to serve for your food item), and have the food as ‘ready to serve’ as possible (meaning pre-cut, etc).
Arts and crafts have always been a part of American life. Show a toy or craft, (you might have this at home, or you can do a 'makers' thing by recreating toy/craft, or you can simply make a slide) that represents your state somehow.
Include in your Google presentation an art image(s) unique to your state, an image depicting a recognizable landmark found in your state, or a famous painting of a historical event that occurred in your state. This art image slide(s) should be labeled and have captions as needed. Feel free to use the VTS method when showing the image, but be prepared to explain the image also.
Or…trust your heart and go with an idea of your own!
Videos or Quizlet/Kahoot do not count as extension projects
Instructions for your State Report Presentation Slides:
Instructions for your State Report Presentation Slides:
The first slide must be a title slide, with your state's name and your name.
Create at least one slide for each section of your state report (geography, economy, tourism, history). You may create as many slides as you like for each section, and the more you make, the easier it is to give this presentation--so make a lot. I suggest adding sub-sections too, (like, agriculture, natural resources, Native Americans, American Revolution, etc.). Each section must be properly titled (and properly capitalized). There is no limit to the total amount of slides.
The order of the sections are: Geography, Economy, Tourism, and History. For each slide, include captions (words) to identify the image on the slide. You may have more than one image per slide if you want, but images are more powerful when they are larger.
In addition to these state report sections, you should add other, more interesting information about your state. This will make for a more interesting presentation when that time comes:) In general, try to include at least 5 unique and interesting things about your state.
Include at least one interesting and informative video. Show roughly 5 minutes of video (not 20 minutes). Make sure videos are pre-screened to be school appropriate. If your video is longer than a few minutes, and you don't know how to edit it, then just know which parts on the time-line that you want to show.
Check your capitalization, grammar, spelling, and punctuation carefully. I suggest using nothing smaller than a 18-24 font.
Add design and animation ONLY after all slides have content completed.
Graphs may be in your presentation.
While researching your state, through the State Report Information Page, start collecting images and text as you come across them. Drop them into your presentation slides right away. It’ll make creating the final slide show product easier in the long run. It is important to remember what you want to say about the images/slides, so put notes right onto the slide or below it into the ‘speaker notes area’ so you will remember what you wanted to say about this image/slide in May. Music is also good addition to your presentation.
Do not read from your slides. The information you choose to put on the slides is there to prompt your memory of what you would like to share with your audience. Look at the audience when you are speaking.
I do not assign work on the slide presentation as 'homework' until the end of the year. However, many students like to work on this at home as their own choice starting in February. It becomes more fun to do as it comes together into something special.
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