World History –
Andrews
Spring 2017
Analytical (Persuasive) Essay / Project
Your Research Project this semester gave you an opportunity
to explore a historical topic of your own choosing in which you had a special
interest. Now it’s time to ask yourself, “so what?” Who else should care about
the topic you wrote about? Why should they care? Why is it important?
Your second and shorter assignment will build on the
research you just did. To get started:
1) Identify a category of people who should know more about
your research – for example young women, or US voters, or people over 50, or
college students, etc. They are your audience.
2) What portion of your research is most important for your
audience to know about? Highlight 2 to 4 key ideas, concepts or facts from your
research they should know about. Why is important for them to know these key
ideas, etc.? Might it help them personally? Might it make our world better in
some small or large way? Can the key ideas, etc. be linked to an objective
system of ethics or values such as the Hallmarks, Catholic Social Teaching, or
another system?
3) What is the best way to communicate your key ideas to
your audience? Would it be a newspaper article? A drawing or painting? A poem?
A youtube video? A dance? A brochure? An essay? Determine the best format for
you to use in communicating your ideas to your audience.
4) Toward the end of the semester, you will read, perform,
play or otherwise present your project or essay to the class. It should be the
approximate work-equivalent of 3 pages of written work.
