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History Assessment Essay Guidelines and Rubric
Why are we doing this?
As part of the general education of every UWG student, this course aims to teach students to understand the
political, social, economic, or cultural dimensions of world history. The purpose of this assignment is to measure
the extent to which students in all sections of this course have learned what we have been trying to teach. We will
collect and analyze essays from all sections in order to find ways to help future students learn this material more
fully.
What, exactly, do we need to do for this assignment?
Each student will write an essay answering the following question:
[Insert your own question here. Example:
As you reflect back on what you have learned this semester, what do you think was one of the most important
political, social, economic, or cultural developments during this period of world history (ancient history to
1500)? Explain how and why this development emerged, how it changed (or didn’t change) over time, and how
it shaped the development of world history. Please organize your essay chronologically, but with a clear thesis
statement and arguments supported with evidence from specific facts and concepts that you learned in this
course. Your essay should be at least three paragraphs long – although feel free to write a longer essay if you
would like.]
The strongest answers will include substantial, accurate factual information, including specific, examples relevant
to the political, social, economic, or cultural dimensions of the question addressed. The strongest answers will
accurately use relevant historical terms and demonstrate sophisticated and nuanced understanding of the
material. The strongest answers will show the ability to apply historical perspective, which focuses on
understanding the past and pays attention to historical context, as well as change or continuity over time.
To produce a strong essay, students will need to:
1. Closely read these instructions and the question posed
2. Brainstorm ideas about how to approach the question and material from the course relevant to the
question (feel free to use the History Assessment Essay Worksheet below to assist you with your
brainstorming)
3. Develop a thesis
4. Outline an answer
5. Draft an essay that answers the question posed and demonstrates an ability to understand the
political, social, economic, or cultural dimensions of world or American history
6. Re-read the rubric below to see what is expected
7. Revise the essay to meet the rubric
Avoid the following:
o Making vague, sweeping, unsupported claims (e.g. throughout history people have always
distrusted the government.)
How is this essay going to be evaluated?
The essay will be evaluated according to the grading guidelines specified in the syllabus.
For purposes of measuring student learning in the course generally, the same rubric (see below) will be applied to
all essays.
History Assessment Essay Worksheet
1. What is your main argument?
2. Name three examples that help support this argument, and include a discussion of how each example supports
the argument you have described above.
3. What conclusions can you make from these examples with regards to historical significance?
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