CHC2DI

HISTORICAL ESSAY ASSIGNMENT

Learning Goal: Part of being a successful history student is learning how to discover new information
independently. Learning how to select a topic, locate sources, analyze material, and to follow a specific
written format (including an endnote and bibliography citations) are all parts of historical research.
Writing a short historical essay (4-5 pages) is an essential requirement of the CHC 2DI course curriculum, and
will be evaluated as 15% of your overall mark for the course. The Essay will be applied to the Historical
Significance Concept of the course.
This package will provide you with instructions on how to write your paper, using a step by step process, over
a two-month period.

Success Criteria:
Requirement

Date Due

STAGE I: Topic Proposal

STAGE II: Annotated Bibliography
STAGE III: Essay Outline
STAGE IV: Essay Drafts (Required Elements)
Introduction Paragraph Draft
1st Main Point Paragraph Draft containing a minimum of one quotation
and one paraphrase properly formatted.
STAGE V: Final Essay +

4-5 page typed, double spaced, #12 New Times Roman font, 1 margins

Title Page included

Endnotes Page properly spaced and formatted.

Bibliography Page properly spaced and formatted.

Historical Essay Evaluation:

The marks for this assignment will come from two areas: the process of writing your essay, and the final
product that you submit.
A. Process Marks
Topic Proposal
Bibliography
Outline
Utilization of Work Periods/Drafts
PROCESS TOTAL

/10
/15
/25
/15
/65

B. Product Mark (rubric provided)

Essay
Conventions
Bibliography
Chicago Citations
*See Rubric
PRODUCT TOTAL

GRAND TOTAL

/65

/130

STAGE I. Topic Proposal

It is essential that you select a topic that you have a sincere interest in as it will demand your attention for the remainder of the
semester. The parameters for topic selection are that you may choose a topic from the list that has been generated for you or
alternatively get approval from your teacher for an alternate choice. There will not be any duplication of topics within the
class; therefore, select your topic quickly in order to claim ownership of it. The Topic Proposal Sheet must be submitted to
the teacher by the date stated at the top of the assignment, signed by one of your parents.

STAGE II. Annotated Bibliography

Selecting effective, applicable and helpful sources is key to good research. For this particular task, you will be locating three
sources made up of book and internet sources. (use Sweet Search, Google Scholar and the Virtual Libraryno Wikipedia).
Go to a library, find some books related to your topic and look in the index to find the specific issues related to your topic.
The internet can also be a valuable source, but be sure that the site is credible. Some questions to ask yourself: Is the
information of the site sourced with footnotes or endnotes? Is the site part of a larger organization or just someones small
web page or blog? The skill in finding and then recording bibliographic information will be invaluable for future writing
assignments. You will be given instructions on how to write a bibliography and this information will also assist you in
including sources referenced in your Endnotes.
The Annotated Bibliography Sheet must be submitted to the teacher by the date stated at the top of the assignment. In
addition to bibliographic data, an annotated bibliography provides a concise summary of each source and some assessment of
its value or relevance to your thesis. YOU MUST PROVIDE DETAILS FROM YOUR SOURCE IN MINIMUM 50 WORDS
or 5 LINES.
STAGE III. Outline
As you begin reading your sources and compiling research information, you are to construct a rough skeleton of what your
essay will look like. Your Outline will help you organize your thesis, your three main points and the three examples you will
use to prove that main point. You must then find one specific detail from your sources for each example that can be used as a
quotation or paraphrase in your essay. Write down the source name to help you find the quotation easily as you write your
essay. The Essay Outline Sheet must be submitted to the teacher by the date stated at the top of the assignment.
STAGE IV. Drafts
To help you meet your deadlines and provide feedback, there will be essay conference dates along the way, where the teacher
will conference with you over your progress. See chart at top of document for conference dates.
STAGE V. Final Product
The written portion of your essay is required to be between 4-5 pages long. Additionally, you are expected to provide a one
page Title Page attached to the front of your essay and a separate endnotes page and a bibliography page at the end of your
essay. These additional pages do not count within the 4-5 page requirement of your essay. Your essay should be typed, double
spaced, 1-1/2margins and #12 font.
A) Introductory Paragraph: Creating a Thesis and Supporting Arguments:
Begin your essay with a brief introduction or provide background information to set the stage for your essay topic. Then state
what our essay will prove directly and in one sentence. This sentence is the thesis statement, and it serves as a summary of the
argument you'll make in the rest of your paper.
What is a Thesis Statement: A thesis statement is the answer to a question that your research paper seeks to explore. It is
written as a statement and takes a specific stand on an issue.
Checklist: Testing Your Thesis Statement:
__1. The thesis statement is one complete sentence.
__2. The thesis statement is not a question.
__3. The thesis statement does not contain phrases such as I think, most people think, I believe, etc.
__4. The thesis statement deals with one coherent point. You have let others read it and they understood it immediately.
__5. The thesis statement is made up of clear, concise language.
__6. The thesis statement does not contain figurative or slang statements.
Lastly, provide your blueprint or the three main points you stated in your Essay Outline that you will use to prove your thesis.
List the three main points you will use in one sentence. Do not put each main point in a separate sentence. Keep the details
for your main body paragraphs.

B) Main Body Paragraphs:

 First sentence: The topic sentence: State clearly what the paragraph is about. The topic sentence should contain key words
as you stated it in your introductory paragraph. (1st main point)
Your Proof: Typically we look for three examples to support this main point.
State your 1st example in your own words. After you state the example, you need to reinforce the example by providing
support (words or ideas) that you have taken from a primary or secondary source. This is done by inserting a quotation or
paraphrase (see note on quotations and paraphrasing below)
Your Analysis: Following each example and support, you must always interpret or analyze your proof with an argument
in your own words. Remember, this essay is written by you. The reader wants to read your argument. Do not expect
the reader to make the connection between your evidence and your thesisthis is your job.
Continue to repeat these steps until you have all three examples completed. Then write the closing sentence.
Closing Sentence: This is the last sentence in a paragraph. It signals the reader that you are finished discussing this main
point. It restates the main point of your paragraph and connects it to the thesis statement (what you are proving in your
essay). You may also include a transition statement to lead the reader to the next paragraph eg . also, likewise.

Embedding a quotation:
- A quote cannot stand alone in an essay as a sentence. It must have an introductory phrase.
Example:
Mr. Churchill stated, We shall never surrender.1
As historian, Megan Smith, points out, Churchill was a very strong speaker. 2
-Also, Never just plop a quote in and expect it to be clear to the reader how it supports the main point. Following
each quote, you must analyze and interpret it -- tell how the quote supports and makes a connection to the main point.

Paraphrasing:
Direct quotations can be overused in an essay. Your writing is considered more sophisticated if you use paraphrasing as well
and keep the direct quotations for those absolutely dynamic phrases. Information that you provide that is based on a
judgment, opinion or action about a topic or by a person should be referenced. For example: You are doing research and
read about Winston Churchill giving a speech. Rather than give an exact quotation, you can paraphrase by making a
comment about it in your essay in your own words. In this case, you dont use quotation marks, but you still have to say
where you found the information you used.
Example:
During World War II, Winston Churchill made a famous speech about never surrendering to the German forces. 1
Note that the footnote or endnote (superscript) number goes at the end of the paraphrase.
- If you choose to use footnotes, the reference goes at the bottom of the same page where the paraphrase appears.
- If you choose to use endnotes, the reference goes on a separate Endnotes page at the end of the essay.
C) Concluding Paragraph
This is the last paragraph of the essay portion of the paper. Never introduce new ideas in your concluding paragraph. If they
were that good, put them in the body of the essay! The first sentence of the concluding paragraph is a clear, specific restatement of the thesis. You cannot just copy your thesis statement from your introductory paragraph. You must state the
same thing but change the wording around. Restate your three main points; after all, they were integral to your whole

argument. Final Sentence: Answer the so-what: Answer why the argument is important in the bigger scheme of things, or
suggests avenues for further research, or raises a bigger question. Remember: You want to have a strong finish: Show
confidence and strength. If you believe it, the reader will too!!
D) Endnotes or Footnotes (choose one style for your paper, do not use both)
Endnotes are a reference to the sources used for direct quotations, authors opinions, statistics and tables and
diagrams that you include in your essay. Endnotes are listed in numerical order according to their appearance in the
essay.
Footnotes go at the bottom of the page where the quote is found. Endnotes are a separate page placed between the last page
of your essay and your bibliography.
Plagiarism is a students worst nightmare. Plagiarism means copying someone elses ideas or work, and it is an academic
offence, even if it is unintentional. Refer to FHCIs Plagiarism Policy for additional definitions and consequences. This
does not mean that you cannot use other peoples opinions and information. All you have to do is put endnotes after other
peoples facts or opinions to give them credit for their work. You will be taught the difference between quotations and
paraphrasing in class as well as how to include endnotes within the body of your essay and how to properly cite them at its
conclusion.
Remember:
1. Footnotes appear at the bottom of the page the quote appears on. Endnotes are a separate page immediately following
the end of your written essay. You either choose to use endnotes or footnotes. You do not use both.
2. Use endnotes when quoting or paraphrasing someone elses work.
3. Do not make your quotations too long! Just quote what is necessary for your argument/evidence.
4. Footnotes/endnotes are listed in numerical order as they appear in the essay. The 1st line only is indented 5 spaces.
Authors names are typed as you would say it out loud.
5. To put an endnote in your essay, using Word: click References, Set Style to Chicago. Click the small arrow in the
Footnotes section. Change the selection to Endnotes, make sure it will be shown in numerical order.
6. Single space entries but double space between entries.
For book:
Author name, Title of Book, Bracket (City book published in, colon, Publishers name, year book published)End Bracket,
page #
1.

William H. Rehnquist, The Supreme Court: A History (New York: Knopf, 2001), 204.

For web site:

author's name, title of the short work, title of the site, sponsor of the site, the URL, (date accessed) When no author is
named, treat the site's sponsor as the author.
21.
Kevin Rayburn, The 1920s, University of Louisville, <http://www.louisville.edu/~kprayb01/1920s.html.>
(accessed Feb 2, 2011)
22.
Sheila Connor, "Historical Background, Garden and Forest, Library of Congress,
<http://lcweb.loc.gov/preserv/prd/gardfor/historygf.html.> (accessed May 22, 2010)
Note: if you use the same book in another endnote, you do not have to write out the whole endnote again. Just put the
authors last name, and the page number.
E) Bibliography
A Bibliography is an alphabetical listing of all the sources you used when writing an essay.
You are required to include a Bibliography as the last page of your essay after the endnotes page.
Remember:
1. Your bibliography is listed in alphabetical order.
2. Single space entries but double space between entries.
3. The 1st line should be right at the left margin. All subsequent lines are indented 5 spaces.
4. Authors names should be typed last name first followed by first name.
5. There is no page number listed on the book entry for the bibliography.

Encyclopedia Britannica. 1994 ed. s.v. Sparta.

Kramer, Heinz. A Changing Turkey: The Challenge to Europe and the United States. Washington, DC: Brookings Press, 2000.
<http://brookings.nap.edu/books/0815750234/html/index.html.>(accessed Feb 22, 2009)
Rayburn, Kevin. The 1920s, University of Louisville, <http://www.louisville.edu/~kprayb01/1920s.html.> (accessed Feb 2,
2011)

CHC 2DI

STAGE 1: TOPIC PROPOSAL

Date Due_________

Name______________________________________

Total _________/10

The topic that I have chosen is: (1 mark)

One fact I already knew about this topic was: (1 mark)

Three interesting facts I have found out through my initial research are: (3 marks)

Parental signature to indicate their knowledge of this assignment and that the final good copy of
the essay is due on _____________________________. (2 marks)
Signature________________________

Date____________________

Met Proposal Deadline:

1 Day Late _____ (2)

Yes _____ (3)

2 Days Late ______ (1)

CHC 2DI

STAGE 2: ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Name______________________________________

Date Due ________

Total _________/15

BOOK SOURCE: Bibliographic Citation: (5)

Author Last Name, First Name. Book Title. Place of Publication: Publisher, copyright date.
Eg.

Brown, Joe. Flying in Space. Toronto: Sutton House, 2005.

Borwn, J. and E. White. Wading. Chicago: Whitton, 2004.

Write citation here using the format exemplar above:

This source will prove to be valuable to my research because: MIN. 5 LINES OF DETAIL

INTERNET SOURCE: Bibliographic Citation: (5)

Author(s) Last Name, First Name. Page Title. Website Title. Publication date. (Accessed date), web address
url (if author unknown just leave off citation)
Eg.

Darfur Conflict Spills Across Border. Human Rights Watch.com. October 1, 2013. Accessed Feb.
21, 2015. http://hrw.org/campaigns/crp/index.htm

Write citation here using the format exemplar above:

This source will prove to be valuable to my research because: MIN. 5 LINES OF DETAIL

BOOK or INTERNET SOURCE: Bibliographic Citation: (5)

Write citation here using the format exemplar above:

This source will prove to be valuable to my research because: MIN. 5 LINES OF DETAIL

CHC 2DI

STAGE 3: ESSAY OUTLINE

Date Due_________

Name______________________________________

Total _________/25

Essay Topic or Question: _______________________________________________________________

Introductory Paragraph:
o

Begin with a Hook (an important fact, quote, or general statement about your topic) to draw your
readers attention.
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________

Thesis Statement whats the point of your essay? What are you going to argue? The thesis should
provide an opinion/answer to the topic.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________

Main Arguments List the 3 main points that you will use to support your thesis
1) _______________________________________________________________________________________
2) _______________________________________________________________________________________
3) _______________________________________________________________________________________

1st Main Point Paragraph your first argument will be presented here:
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
o

Supporting facts or details (relevant information that you have gathered from your research that supports the
first argument you are trying to make. Also make note of the source you found the info. in )

_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________

Source: ______________________________________________________________________________________
o

Transition (conclude your first argument and lead-in to your next argument)
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________

2nd Main Point Paragraph your second argument will be presented here:
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
o

Supporting facts or details (relevant information that you have gathered from your research that supports
the

first argument you are trying to make. Also make note of the source you found the info. in )
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Source: ___________________________________________________________________________________
o

Transition (conclude your second argument and lead-in to your final one)
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
3rd Main Point Paragraph your final argument will be presented here:
________________________________________________________________________________________________
o

Supporting facts or details (relevant information that you have gathered from your research that supports
the first argument you are trying to make. Also make note of the source you found the info. in )

______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________

 ______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Source: ___________________________________________________________________________________
o

Wrap-Up (conclude your final argument by linking back to your thesis)

________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Concluding Paragraph

Briefly re-state your thesis (you must reword it, not copy) and summarize again the main points of your essay.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________

Finish with a flourish (an intelligent comment) make a prediction about the future; put your topic in a larger context.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________

CHC 2DI

STAGE 4: DRAFT ESSAY EVALUATION

Name______________________________________

Date Due_________
Total _________/15

The purpose of the draft essay submission is for your teacher to be able to assess the areas of essay writing
that you have mastered as well as what areas you need to improve upon before you hand in your final essay.
Only the introductory and 1st main paragraph with footnote or endnote citation will be marked. It is
your job to transfer the comments provided by your teacher below into your final paragraphs to
demonstrate learning.
CONCEPT

ESSAY FORMAT
Draft is typed.
Margins set at 1 or 2.5cm
Double spaced.
Page Numbers-upper right corner

INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH
Begins with a broad statement and narrows
to thesis. (should be multiple sentences)
Thesis statement states the main topic of
the essay as well as what will be proved by
this essay.
Thesis is followed by a sentence listing the
3 main points that will be argued by the
essay.

1ST MAIN PARAGRAPH

Topic Sentence present and mirrors order
listed in introductory paragraph.
1st example is stated.
Evidence is presented to support 1st
example.
Comment is presented to argue how
example 1 and evidence prove the main
point.
2nd example is stated.
Evidence is presented to support 2nd
example.
Comment is presented to argue how
example 2 and evidence prove the main
point.
3rd example is stated.
Evidence is presented to support 3rd
example.
Comment is presented to argue how
example 3 and evidence prove the main
point.
Concluding sentence ties the main point of
this paragraph back to the thesis of the
essay.
Quotation is present and properly
formatted.
Paraphrase is present and properly
formatted.

NEEDS
MORE
WORK

COMMENTS

CHC 2DI

STAGE 5: CANADIAN HISTORY

ESSAY EVALUATION RUBRIC

Name______________________________________

Date Due________________

Essay Topic _____________________________

Note: At the Grade 10 level, a Level 3 is the provincial standard for achievement. The student demonstrates the
specified knowledge and skills with considerable effectiveness. Students, who show exceptional demonstration of
skill, have surpassed the provincial standard and move into the Level 4 category.

Category

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Communication
1
-Needs assistance with
spelling, grammar and
punctuation.

-major errors in spelling and

grammar.

-some minor errors in spelling

and grammar.

-minimal errors in spelling and

grammar

Application
1
Intro/Conclusion

Thesis Statement

Main Body
Paragraphs

Quotations,
Paraphrases,

Footnotes and
Bibliography

Knowledge
&
Understanding
(Connecting
research to
arguments)

-title page-major errors

-introduction poorly stated
-main points not clear
-conclusion poorly stated

1
-no thesis statement

2
-thesis statement does not
clearly convey purpose of the
essay.
2
-some evidence of main body
paragraphs with topic or
closing sentences
-format detracts from
arguments
-some success in developing
focus areas
2
-many errors in format of
quotations
-many sentences needed cited
in essay that were missed

1
-no evidence of main body
paragraphs with topic or
closing sentences
-format impedes the arguments
presented
-did not meet required page
count.
1
-format does not follow the
FHCI style guide for Chicago
Style and bibliography

-title page-minor errors

-fair introduction
-main points listed but
awkwardly presented.
-fair conclusion
3
-thesis statement is too
mechanical in nature

-title page well presented

-well-developed introduction
-main points clearly stated
-well-developed conclusion

3
-most points relate to purpose
-organization of main body
paragraphs is sufficient
-focus areas satisfactorily
developed.

4
5
-excellent organization of main
body paragraphs

3
-several errors in format of
quotations
-several sentences needed cited
in essay that were missed

4
5
-a couple errors in format of
quotations
-a couple sentences needed
cited in essay that were missed

4
5
-well-chosen points in relation
to purpose

-thorough development of
focus areas is detected within
breadth of essay

-no evidence of sources used

-many errors in Chicago Style

citation of sources in endnotes
or bibliography

-several errors in Chicago

Style citation of sources in
endnotes and/or bibliography

-effective use of Chicago Style

citation of sources in endnotes
and/or bibliography

10
11
-no factual knowledge
demonstrated
-Connections made: no
understanding of relationships
between key topics and
concepts shown
-Errors in connections
seriously prevent readers
understanding

12
13
-limited demonstration of facts

14
15
- demonstration of factual
knowledge shown
-Connections made:
appropriate understanding of
relationships between key
topics and concepts is shown

16 17 18 19 20
-considerable demonstration of
factual knowledge shown
-Connections made:
considerable understanding of
relationships between key
topics and concepts is shown

10

11

-inadequate understanding of
research
-research not conducted in
effective manner
-quotations/paraphrasing was
lacking.

TOTAL MARK:
Comments:

-no title page

-lack of introduction
-3 main points not listed
-lack of conclusion

Thinking &
Inquiry
(Depth of
Research and
Interpretation of
Research)

/65

-Connections made: limited

understanding of relationships
between key topics and
concepts is evident

-engaging style of writing

peaks readers interest
12

13

-somewhat weak interpretation

of research
-fair analysis of topic
including
quotations/paraphrasing

14

15

-good interpretation of
research
-satisfactory analysis of topic
including quotations and
paraphrasing.

16

17

18

19 20

-exceptional interpretation of
research
-effective and competent
analysis of topic including
quotations and paraphrasing.