Today you will be writing your formative explanatory essay using the research you gathered on your group's selected civilization.

You will use the essay template dropped in your WH Drop folder.

Today you will be participating in a Socratic Seminar Discussion.   You will serve different roles throughout the discussions today. You will participate in the discussion that represents your research question; you will also play the role of a "critical friend" and make observations and provide feedback on one of your group member's participation; you will also take additional notes for one of your group members while they are in the Socratic discussion. 

One group member will need to open & make a copy of the following Socratic Discussion Group Notes template & share with your other group members:

• Socratic Seminar Discussion - Civilization Patterns & Trends (Group Notes) Doc

​Sample Outline Exemplars: 

• WWI Argumentative Essay Outline with quotes page & Works Cited page
• Belief Systems Explanatory Essay Outlines

Sample Paragraphs & Essays:

• Exemplar Paragraph: Early Empires
• Sample “Meets” Essay with Sources + Works Cited list

Additional Helpful Resources:

• Historical Writing: How to write an effective Historical Essay (Youtube)
• English vs. History Thesis (Youtube)
• Avoiding common mistakes in historical essay writing (Khan Academy)
• How to make an MLA Works Cited page (Youtube tutorial)
• Difference between Works Cited List vs. Bibliography
• Purdue University OWL - MLA In-text Citations Style Guidelines

Today we will be preparing for next class' Socratic Discussion on the rise, expansion and fall of civilizations. We will take a look at the Socratic Discussion format (fishbowl format) and important tips for effective participation.
We will also look at the 1-page explanatory essay outline template and discuss preparation for next week's formative 5-paragraph essay.

BASED ON HOW WELL YOU CAN ANSWER YOUR RESEARCH QUESTION SHOULD INDICATE WHAT TO FOCUS ON FOR FINALIZING YOUR RESEARCH NOTES:

• Try to respond to your research question in the "Summary" section of your research table in the form of a statement  -->  this is the start of a thesis statement (claim).   ​​​This statement can be 1-2 sentences in length
• Include 2-3 reasons/explanations in your statement response
  
  • Do you have 2-3 reasons you can provide?
    
    • If not, you need to research more to find these.  
      
    • If yes, be sure you have solid text evidence (examples, facts, quotes, multiple sources) that help you explain these reasons and support these explanations with evidence)
      
• Print out YOUR Research Table -- you need to bring your table to class for using during the Socratic Discussion next class (only your table--not the rest of your group members) 

In today's class, you will be introduced and taught how to access some of the online academic research databases available to your through the Library Resources in Schoology. Mr. Bob Helmer, our high school Librarian, will show you how to access and use these resources.

As you continue your research, please use these databases, when possible, so that you are using a wide range of primary and secondary sources that are more reliable than simply relying on sources found in a Google Search.

Continue taking relevant notes on your research question within the table in the Shared Inquriy Research Portfolio.

You will need to work on finding reliable sources and information that helps you answer your guiding question about your civilization. Be sure you are organizing your notes and recording the notes in your group's Shared Inquiry Research Portfolio (Google Doc).