Changed Due Date

The hard workers convinced me that you really need one more day to get the chart done. I'll expect yours on Friday!

Tues and Wed 4/22 and 4/23

We have begun our discussion of religion and it's role in culture. Yesterday we began identifying what religion is. Today we listed and discussed several aspects that you can use to compare/contrast different religions. Your assignment is to create a chart comparing/contrasting (at a minimum): Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism, and one minor religion on at least 12 different aspects. To get in the A/B range, you need to compare more aspects and a second minor religion.

You MUST understand what you add to the chart. Do not simply copy information from a source to the chart if it doesn't help you to develop a further understanding of the religion. If it doesn't make sense to you, you need to make sense of it by working at it or seeking help (on some occasions, if it is a minor detail in a larger category, you may choose to leave it out if you have other information for that aspect).

You will have class time to work on this Thurs 4/24 - Wed 4/30. You will likely have an in-class writing based on your chart on May 1.

Essay Rubric

Some of you have been asking for a rubric for the essay. This is a first draft -- I haven't had time to proof read it. It is very similar to the one I've used earlier this year, but I clarified a bit more about what "organization" means. While this may seem a stretch for some of you, you need to work toward this. Remember -- I want to see YOUR best work. I want to see how your writing skills have improved this year. Growth in your effort and skill development will also impact your grade, not just the elements on the rubric. Also, as stated in class, grammar issues and typos could have an impact on your grade as well as whether all of the required items (see below entry if you forgot or lost your list) that should be submitted.



Excellent
Your response is highly organized overall as well as within and between paragraphs and sentences. You have clear and highly effective introduction and conclusion paragraphs, each paragraph has a well-crafted, clear or clearly implied topic sentence (which strongly supports your thesis) to which all other sentences clearly connect, and your transitions are subtle, yet effective.

Your information is highly detailed and thorough. You included meaningful examples that strongly support your ideas. You properly cite information from source material.

You effectively compared and contrasted at least four societal aspects and have done so by examining them at deep levels, considering different elements/situations.


Good
Your response is generally organized overall and within paragraphs and sentences, but some ideas could be stronger if better placed. Your introduction and conclusion summarize your main points and are clearly written. Most ideas in each paragraph connect to the topic sentence, which supports your thesis. You used effective transitions.

Your information is detailed and specific and is relevant to your ideas. You provide examples, but they could be more specific or connect to your ideas more clearly. You properly cite information from source material.

You compared and contrasted at least 2 or 3 societal aspects and have done so by examining them with thought.


Satisfactory

Your response is organized overall, but many ideas would be stronger if better placed. Your introduction and conclusion paragraphs provide an overview of your thesis statement, but should summarize your main points more. Your paragraphs contain related ideas, but you should use more effective topic sentences. Your paragraphs should connect more clearly to your thesis. You are missing transitions, or they are could be more effective.

Your information is more general than detailed, and some may not support your ideas in a strong way. Some of information from source materials is used, but there should be more (or it should be properly cited.)

You compared/contrasted 1 or 2 societal aspects, but needed to do so more deeply and on more levels.


Needs Work
You attempted to organize your response, but you did not follow through or your method was not successful. You may have an introduction and/or conclusion, but they need to be developed more fully. Your paragraphs are not structured around a main idea and/or do not support your thesis. You have not used transitions between ideas.

Most of your information is very general, and you included very few details. The examples and details you do provide do not help to explain your ideas. You have not used any resource materials to support your ideas and you have not cited any resources.

You compared and contrasted some aspects of the different time periods/circumstances, but your view is unclear, the examples you chose were trivial, you used inaccurate information, or it is unclear whether you understand the concepts you are discussing.

Here is a list of what has been assigned so far this quarter.

1. Ordinary Germans reading: list 5 reasons historians usually give for explaining why the “ordinary” Germans participated in holocaust, explain what the author believes is the reason. (Last day to submit is 4/8.)

2. In large reading packet “Chelmno” and 3 questions; “Commanding a Concentration Camp” and 3 questions. (Last day to submit is 4/9.)

3. In large reading packet "Simon Weisenthal Dies at 96" and questions. (Last day to submit is 4/11.)

3. Paper due April 23 on EQ listed on blog. THIS Thursday you need introduction and outline/web of paper. On April 23, you need to turn in:

a. Notes from webquest (on blog)
b. Intro/outline WITH notes from peer discussions that will be held this Thursday
c. Rough draft which has been self- and other-edited for organization, clarity, etc.
d. Rough draft which has been edited for typos and grammar
e. Final draft