Purpose:
This essay is designed for you to show your knowledge of two different periods of Chinese history, to show your skills at writing, and to demonstrate your ability to research.
 
Materials (What you will need):
Your essay must be typewritten (word-processed).

The Process (What you need to do):
 
The Unit 3 Test will be a take-home essay test.  It is worth 100 points and must be turned in typed.  Yes - that's TYPED.  Hand-written tests will not be accepted.  The test is highly structured, so read the directions below very carefully to be sure you are following the directions on how to structure your test.  
 
You will write a 5-paragraph essay, each paragraph will be worth 20 points.  You will first pick five (5) of the topics listed as "Topics" and you will then pick two (2) of the cultures/dynasties from the second list:  "Cultures/Dynasties".  The first paragraph will be topic 1 with culture A and with culture B.  The second paragraph will be topic 2 with cultures A and B, and so on.  In each case, be sure to compare and contrast the two cultures.  Here is an example of what I am talking about:
 
1a. Qin: technology and inventions
1b. Han: technology and inventions
2a. Qin: politics and government
2b. Han: politics and government
3a. Qin: religion and philosophy
3b. Han: religion and philosophy
4a. Qin: visual arts
4b. Han: visual arts
5a. Qin: society, family, and gender
5b. Han: society, family, and gender
 
 
Be sure to make a title which identifies which two time periods/cultures/dynasties you are covering.  For example your paper may be titled: Qin and Han.  Be sure to pay attention to the stipulations presented next to each topic.  
 
Students often ask what constitutes a legitimate paragraph.  It is whatever adequately addresses the topic.  In the case of this paper, I can't see it as anything less than 3 fully developed, multi-clausal complex sentences (or nothing fewer than 5 sentences) and most likely around 10 sentences per paragraph.  Of course, it is not length that matters but QUALITY!  I'd much rather read 10 words which adequately address the issues than 100 which are filler, fluff and other unmentionable things.
 
 
***Topics: ***
 
1. Geography and Resources - name specific sites and resources; compare the differences and how they impact social development: how they affect transportation, cultural diffusion, agriculture, etc.  Do not simply tell what the names of places are - explain HOW they impact the civilizations
 
2. Technology and Inventions - give specific technologies and explain their broad impact on the society; be sure to include a long-term impact explanation and reference the incremental steps which led up to the invention; you may need to do additional research
 
3. Economy and Trade - include manufacture, the impact of technologies and politics on the economy, and the role of geography in economic development.  You cannot do this topic if you are doing topics 1 or 2.  Factual data is strongly encouraged.
 
4. Politics and Government - name specific figures and forms; be sure to reference individuals and individual policies and assess their impact on society as a whole.
 
5. Religion and Philosophy - provide specific quotes from religious and philosophical texts; be sure to explain the quotes in context. Be sure to emphasize the role religion and philosophy played in the eras you are writing on.
 
6. Visual Arts and Architecture - be sure to reference specific images from this website (you may reference other images, but be sure to include them when you turn in your copy of the essay).
 
7. Literature - quotes with explanations are essential; do not simply quote literature from the period - you must explain how it relates to the time period more thoroughly.
 
8. Society, Family, and Gender - give specific references to the roles of family, children, women, men, and the social structures which intertwine them.  
 
 
***Cultures/Dynasties: ***
 
(A.) Harappan and Aryan Civilization
(B.) Asoka, Chandragupta Maurya and the Mauryan Dynasty
(C.) Shang Dynasty
(D.) Zhou Dynasty and Warring States Period
(E.) Qin Dynasty
(F.) Han Dynasty
(G.) Sui, Tang, and Song Dynasties
(H.) Mongol Dynasty (Yuan)
 

The Grade (what you get out of it):

Essays will be graded on a 100-point basis.  Each paragraph constitutes 20 points.  Skipped paragraphs receive a 0.  Good luck!
 

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