Writing in Social Studies

Writing in Social Studies Today I will be introducing the new short answer writing rubric, CSQT. Please take out your binders and set up a new page in your NOTES section using the Cornell Notes format. You do not have to contain your excitement.

EQ How is well organized writing created? How can direct quotes be integrated into my answers so they help support my topic sentence/thesis?

C.S.Q.T Claim –The answer to the question. Often you can use part of the question to formulate your claim. Set-up –Introduce the quote to be used. Quote –The textual reference that supports your claim. Tie-In –Explain how the Quote proves your Claim. Often this section is two or more sentence. First explain the quote and then it’s connection to the Claim.

Making a Claim Your claim is the answer you will try to prove through your answer. In a one paragraph answer, the claim is your topic sentence. In a longer essay, the claim is your thesis sentence. A thesis is what you intend to prove through your essay.

Setting Up the Quote • The set-up simply provides a transition from your claim to your quote. It often IS NOT a complete sentence, but rather a transitional phrase. • The article states, • The author says, • Paragraph three shows this by stating, • Be sure to include the quote word for word from the text. Include quotation marks at the beginning and end of the text.

Using direct quotes Early in his career Allen Iverson thought that he did not need to practice with his team to be an effective player during games. “Practice. We talkin’ ‘bout practice.”

Using direct quotes Dr. Mincus feels that cartoons damage the minds of children. In the third paragraph, he stated that “even seemingly innocuous shows like SpongeBob Squarepants and Ed, Ed, and Eddie cause children to view the world as unrealistic.” In his opinion, cartoons are dangerous because they teach children that actions do not have lasting consequences.

Using direct quotes Early in his career Allen Iverson thought that he did not need to practice with his team to be an effective player during games. Once when questioned about this he went on a ten minute rant in which he repeatedly stated “We not even talkin’ ‘bout the game. We talkin’ ‘bout practice.” Clearly he felt his skill was at such a high level that he does not even need to practice to win in NBA.

The Tie-In • The tie-in is the most important part of your answer. It provides your reader with the explanation for your claim. • Be sure that the quote you pick actually supports your answer, then explain the quote. • Finally, explicitly explain how the quote fits the claim!

Peer Editing Rubric

Practice The cold harsh wind it heaves and blows, It chills my fingers and my toes. And falling from the sky of slate, A dancing whirr of downy flakes. The flakes that dance, and whirr and fly, They sometimes hit me in the eye. Seeing them again I clap with glee, Ha Ha, Ha Ha, Hee Hee, Hee Hee. Don’t go to that shopping mall! It is the season after fall! And when you get at home in bed, Thoughts of frost they fill your little mind! -Anne Uhhuhmelmahey 1978

Sample Answer The season that is described in the poem is winter. In the beginning of the poem Uhhuhmelmahey describes a heaving wind that “chills her fingers and her toes,” and later goes on to say that she sees “a dancing whirr of downy flakes.” Since the poet describes a brutally cold wind that flings flakes that most likely is snow, the poem is probably set during the winter when snow and cold are regular occurrences.

Question What generation do you think John Mayer is talking to?

Writing in Social Studies