Landmark Research Essay Project

DESCRIPTION
For this writing assignment, you will be researching a landmark and creating a five
paragraph descriptive essay. This writing project will be completed in class and as
homework assignments throughout January.
DUE DATE: MONDAY JANUARY 25, 2016
Title Page: Landmark; Landmark Research Essay; Name; Class Group, Date
Essay: Five paragraphs; 6-8 sentences each; introduction, body, conclusion
Bibliography: At least three credible sources listed in the proper format
Pictures: Three color pictures on the title page and/or end of the essay
REQUIREMENTS: Your essay has the following technical requirements:
Font Style: Arial
Font Size: 12 Point
Spacing:
1.5 Line Spacing
Page Count: 5-6 pages (title page, essay, bibliography, pictures)
The following documents will be completed for preparation and grading:
Document 1
Document 2:
Document 3:
Document 4:
Document 5:
Document 6:
Document 7:
Document 8:
Document 9:
Document 10:
Document 11:
Document 12:
Document 13:
Document 14
Document 15:

Landmarks Brainstorm
Landmark Research
Landmark Notes
Bibliography
Essay Outline
The Hook
Introduction
Body Paragraphs
Conclusion
Rough Draft
Rough Draft Continued
Revising Checklist
Editing Checklist
Title Page Sample
Grading Rubric

NOTE: You must save this packet onto the desktop of your Surface and type all your
notes in Word. You also must also use a different color font that is noticeable for typing
your notes other than black. Finally, you must contain the notes for each document
within that document. No going over! All your documents are shown on one page and
must stay that way for ease of reading and grading purposes.

DOCUMENT 1: LANDMARKS BRAINSTORM

We will begin a descriptive essay in January in which we will review the entire writing
process as well as conduct research and cite sources. In preparation of our writing
task, over the break you will brainstorm different landmarks around the world and come
up with one that you would like to complete your descriptive essay on. Use the
template below to complete your brainstorm. All parts must be fully completed. This
document is due on Monday, January 4th. Please email Mrs. West during break if you
have any questions on this homework assignment.
DIRECTIONS
Research the internet to find different landmarks around the world and complete the
template below with your short notes. You will need to consult a map to complete your
brainstorming. When finished, highlight the name of the landmark from your list that you
will complete your descriptive essay on in January. A resource to begin your research
of landmarks can found at the following website: http://www.listchallenges.com/150most-famous-landmarks-in-the-world . However, do not rely on this list alone. Be
creative in finding unique, less famous landmarks.
Landmark: An object or feature of a landscape or town that is easily seen and
recognized from a distance, can establish ones location, and has importance or
significance.
NORTH: Find an important landmark north of the Equator.
Name:
Location:
Description:
Importance:
SOUTH: Find an important landmark south of the Equator.
Name:
Location:
Description:
Importance:
EAST: Find an important landmark east of the Prime Meridian.
Name:
Location:
Description:
Importance:
WEST: Find an important landmark west of the Prime Meridian.
Name:
Location:
Description:
Importance:

DOCUMENT 2: LANDMARK RESEARCH

Directions: Type the information below for each of your resources to start your bibliography.
Resource 1
Website Address:
Title:
Date of Article:
Date Viewed:
Author/Publisher:
Quick Notes:
Resource 2
Website Address:
Title:
Date of Article:
Date Viewed
Author/Publisher:
Quick Notes:
Resource 3
Website Address:
Title:
Date of Article:
Date Viewed:
Author/Publisher:
Quick Notes:

DOCUMENT 3: LANDMARK NOTES

Directions: Fill in each category below with detailed notes. This will help you to build
details for the three main topic ideas within your essay.
Name:

Location:

Description:

Creation Date:

Created By:

Created For:

Used For:

Visitors:

Importance:

Interesting Facts:

DOCUMENT 4: BIBLIOGRAPHY
WEBSITE
Author Last Name (If no author put Website Article) Author First Name.
Webpage Title (put in quotations). Title of the Website (italicize).Date of
Publication, Date Viewed. Website URL.
Feinberg, Ashley. Whats the Safest Seat in an Airplane? Gizmodo. Gawker
Media, 28 Mar. 2013. Web. 30 Mar. 2013. Gizmodo.com.

ONLINE PICTURES
Author Last Name, Author First Name. Picture Title (italicized).Year Created.
Publisher Name, City. Website Title (italicized). Web. Date Viewed.
Smith, John. Sunset on the Atlantic. 2000. Museum of Modern Art, New York.
CNN.com. Web. 1 Feb. 2009.

LANDMARK BIBILIOGRAPHY
Resource 1

Resource 2

Resource 3

Picture 1

Picture 2

Picture 3

DOCUMENT 5: ESSAY OUTLINE

MAIN IDEA 1:
Supporting Detail:

Supporting Detail:

Supporting Detail:

MAIN IDEA 2:
Supporting Detail:

Supporting Detail:

Supporting Detail:

MAIN IDEA 3:
Supporting Detail:

Supporting Detail:

Supporting Detail:

DOCUMENT 6: THE HOOK

Hook: The first one or two sentences of your essay which grabs a readers attention
and lets them decide if they want to continue reading.
Directions: Review each type of hook below and create a hook for your landmark.
Then highlight the one you will use for your essay as your opening statement.
Interesting or Fun Fact Hook: Something that people would most likely no know about
your topic which interests them to keep reading. Example: its nicknames are The Space Cage
and Eye of the Needle.

My Interesting or Fun Fact Hook:

Quotation Hook: A quote from a person who has experienced the topic you are writing
about can be a strong essay hook. Example: You cant escape Seattle without enjoying
the slim, three legged lady dancer called the Space Needle. Sachin Kumar Gupta
My Quotation Hook:

Question Hook: Questions are perfect hooks for essays to draw your reader in.
Example: Would you be willing to climb 848 steps to see as far as the eye could see?
My Question Hook:

Statistic Hook: By giving some proven facts at the very beginning of your essay, you will
interest your readers and make them want to read more details about the fact provided.
Example: On a hot day the Space Needle expands about one inch.
My Statistic Hook:

DOCUMENT 7: INTRODUCTION
Directions: Copy and paste your previous notes into the sections below.
HOOK:
MAIN IDEA 1:

MAIN IDEA 2:

MAIN IDEA 3:
Directions: Next, type your entire introductory paragraph below by combining the
above information with transitions. You will type 6-8 sentences for your introduction.
Start with your hook, move onto your three main ideas. Make sure your sentences flow
together nicely.

DOCUMENT 8: BODY PARAGRAPHS

Your three main ideas and their supporting details you filled out in Document 5 will serve
as a guide for your body paragraphs. You will need to make sure each of the three
body paragraphs is 6-8 sentences and flow smoothly together.
Directions: Type your three body paragraphs below by using Document 5 and the
following format:
Opening Statement (Main Idea)
Supporting Detail 1
Supporting Detail 2
Supporting Detail 3
Closing Statement
PARAGRAPH 1

PARAGRAPH 2

PARAGRAPH 3

DOCUMENT 9: CONCLUSION
Directions: Wrap up all your main ideas by restating them in a new way that shows the
reader what your point is. Your final statement should drive the point home.
Opening Statement:
Main Idea 1 Restated:

Main Idea 2 Restated:

Main idea 3 Restated:

Final Statement:

Directions: Next, type your entire conclusion paragraph below by combining the above
information with transitions. You will type 6-8 sentences for your conclusion. Make sure
your sentences flow together nicely and your conclusion strong.

DOCUMENTS 10 & 11: ROUGH DRAFT

Directions: Type your rough draft on the next two pages by combining your introduction, body
paragraphs, and conclusion. You must have five paragraphs with 6-8 sentences each. Use Arial font with
1.5 line spacing. DO NOT TYPE MORE THAN THESE TWO PAGES PROVIDED!

DOCUMENT 12: REVISING CHECKLIST

Peer Reviewer Name:

WRITER
Can you find for me

PEER REVIEWER
I found
YES
NO
YES
NO
YES
NO
YES
NO
YES
NO
YES
NO

Hook/Grabber (circle it)

Introduction (put an I next to it)
Body Paragraphs (star them)
Supporting Details (check mark)
Conclusion (put a C next to it)
Five Paragraphs (number 1, 2 ,3)
What else could the writer do to make their writing stronger?

REVIEWER: Give this back to the writer.

WRITER: Review the notes given by the reivewer and make any fixes necessary.
NEXT: Move on to the Editing Checklist

DOCUMENT 13: EDITING CHECKLIST

Peer Reviewer Name:

WRITER
Can you find for me
words that need

PEER REVIEWER
I found

capitalization?

sentences that need

commas?

words that need

apostrophes?

quotes that needs quotation

marks?

any misspelled words or

words used incorrectly?

WRITER: Review the notes given by the reivewer and make any fixes necessary.
NEXT: Publish your final draft by opening up a new Word Document on your
Surface to compile your final essay. You must have a title page, essay, pictures,
and bibliography in no more than 6 pages total. When ready, upload it to OneNote
in the L&L Writing Tab titled: Research Essay Final Draft.

DOCUMENT 14: TITLE PAGE SAMPLE

THE SPACE
NEEDLE

LANDMARK RESEARCH ESSAY

Mrs. West: 6A
January 25, 2016
DOCUMENT 15: GRADING RUBRIC

CATEGORY
Introduction
6-8
sentences

Body
Paragraphs
3 paragraphs
6-8
sentences

Conclusion
6-8
sentences

Sentence
Structure

Conventions

Bibliograph
y

Pictures
3 or more

Documents

25 POINTS

15 POINTS

5 POINTS

The introduction is
clearly states the
main topic and
outlines the
structure but is
not interesting.

The introduction
states the main
topic but is not
interesting and it
does not
adequately
outline the
structure of the
essay.

There is no
clear main idea
or outline of the
structure of the
essay.

3 paragraphs
of content are
present and in
logical order.
Details make
sense and are
interesting

3 paragraphs of
content are
present and
mostly in logical
order. Details
make sense but
are not always
interesting.

Only 1 paragraph
of content is
present. Or, there
is a clear sense
that the writing is
not organized.

The conclusion
is
strong and recaps
the main points of
the essay. It
leaves the reader
a lasting
impression.

The
conclusion is
recognizable
and recaps
the main
points of the
essay.

3 paragraphs of
content are
present but they
are not in logical
order or the
details do not
make sense. Or,
only 2 paragraphs
of content are
present and in
logical order.
The
conclusion is
recognizable,
but does not
recap all the
main points
of the essay.

All sentences are

well constructed
and use a variety
in how they are
structured.

Most sentences
are well
constructed and
use a variety in
how they are
structured.
1-3 major errors;
3-5 minor errors

Most sentences
are well
constructed but
they are similar in
structure.

Sentences lack
structure and
appear to be
incomplete or
rambling.

4-5 major errors;

5-7 minor errors;
skills are below
grade level.

6 or more major
errors;
7 or more minor
errors;

Writer
includes 3
resources that
are mostly
properly
formatted.
2 color pictures
are present at the
beginning or end
of the essay.

Writer includes at
least 2 resources
that are properly
formatted.

Writer includes
only 1 resource or
does not properly
format all
resources.

1 color picture is
present at the
beginning or end
of the essay.

Most of the
documents are
present.

Some of the
documents are
present.

1 picture is
present but it is
not in color or
they pictures are
placed in the
middle of the
essay.
2 or less of the
documents are
present.

The
introduction is
interesting,
states the main
topic and
outlines the
structure of the
paper.

0-1 major errors;

1-3 minor errors

Writer
includes 3
resources
properly
formatted.
3 or more color
pictures are
present at the
beginning or end
of the essay.
All documents are
present.

20 POINTS

There is no clear
conclusion and
the paper just
ends abruptly.

Introduction:
Pictures:
Paragraphs:
Documents:
TOTAL SCORE:

Conclusion:
Sentences:
PERCENT:

Conventions:
Bibliography:
COMMENTS: