Download Introduction Paragraph:

Background Essay
Preliminary Questions over Essay
Use the background essay to answer the following questions:
1) Who is seen as the most influential person of the past thousand years? Why?
2) “Gutenberg’s invention was really the end of a long evolution in…” what?
3) What two things needed to be invented before the printing press for the printing press to
happen?
4) What time period did Gutenberg live in? What was happening in that time period?
5) What was the first book that Gutenberg printed? Why do you think that was??
6) What is the question you have to answer in this essay?
7) Rewrite the answer from question #5 as a statement in your own words, and not as a
question.
8) According to the background essay, what would be the topics of your body paragraphs?
Doc 1
1) What is a scribe?
2) What is a printing press and, in general terms, how did the 16th century printing press work?
3) Are these images Primary Source or Secondary Sources?
4) Who is the Author? What time are they from?
5) How do these document(s) show how printing changed the world?
Doc 2
1) Examine the two maps. What statements can you make about the spread of the printing in
the second half of the 16th century?
2) Can we tell if this is a primary or secondary source? Why or why not?
3) How do these document(s) show how printing changed the world?
Doc 3
1) Who was Martin Luther?
2) What were the 95 Theses all about?
3) Are these Primary Source or Secondary Sources?
4) Who are the Authors? What time is this from?
5) What is the connection between the 95 Theses and the printing press? (i.e. how do these
document(s) show how printing changed the world?)
Doc 4
1) Which European
countries and small
states were not Catholic
in 1500?
2) Which European
countries and small
states were not Catholic
in 1560?
3) What did the printing press have to do with this change (i.e. how do these document(s) show
how printing changed the world?)
Doc 5
1) What news did the Columbus Letter of early 1493 contain?
2) How fast did the Columbus Letter spread around Europe? Consult the map for evidence.
3) Are these Primary Source or Secondary Sources?
4) Who are the Authors? What time are these documents from?
5) How do these document(s) show how printing changed the world?
Doc
6
1) Provide the publication date of each of these maps and a comment on its accuracy.
2) Each of these maps in this series went to print and was therefore available to many interested
parties. What effect would this have had on the pace of exploration? Explain.
3) Would the printed maps have been useful, for example, in convincing investors?
4) Are these Primary Source or Secondary Sources?
5) Who is the Authors of each of the two maps?
6) How do these document(s) show how printing changed the world?
Doc
7
1) Is this Primary Source or Secondary Source?
2) Who is the Author? What time is this document from?
3) What is the difference between a classical author and a medieval author?
4) What is the time frame within which all these books were written?
5) What is the main idea of the Note at the bottom of the document?
6) How do these document(s) show how printing changed the world?
Doc 8
1) Is this Primary Source or Secondary Source?
2) Who is the Author? What time is this from?
3) List the names of authors in Document 8 that you recognize.
4) How can Document 8 be used to argue the importance of the printing press? (i.e. how do
these document(s) show how printing changed the world?)
Doc 9
1) Who was
Issac
Newton?
2) What were
the titles of
three books
on Newton’s
college shelf?
3) What
contribution
did the
printing press
make to
Newtonian physics?
4) Are these Primary Source or Secondary Sources?
5) Who are the Authors? What time are this documents from?
6) How do these document(s) show how printing changed the world?
PRE-WRITE AND PLAN YOUR ESSAY NOW!
Introduction Paragraph:
Grabber (a sentence that is relevant to the essay and catches the reader’s attention- do NOT use
a question)
The Thesis:
Thesis= the essay topic + an argument/claim/opinion
The Essay Map (a road map or outline of the main ideas in each body paragraph):
Body Paragraph #1:
Topic Sentence (Main Idea/Bucket or Document Topic that relates to your thesis):
Supporting Detail #1 with Reference to Specific Documents:
Supporting Detail #2 with Reference to Specific Documents:
Supporting Detail #3 with Reference to Specific Documents:
Body Paragraph #2:
Topic Sentence (Main Idea/Bucket or Document Topic that relates to your thesis):
Supporting Detail #1 with Reference to Specific Documents:
Supporting Detail #2 with Reference to Specific Documents:
Supporting Detail #3 with Reference to Specific Documents:
Body Paragraph 3:
Topic Sentence (Main Idea/Bucket or Document Topic that relates to your thesis):
Supporting Detail #1 with Reference to Specific Documents:
Supporting Detail #2 with Reference to Specific Documents:
Supporting Detail #3 with Reference to Specific Documents:
Body Paragraph 4:
Topic Sentence (Main Idea/Bucket or Document Topic that relates to your thesis):
Supporting Detail #1 with Reference to Specific Documents:
Supporting Detail #2 with Reference to Specific Documents:
Supporting Detail #3 with Reference to Specific Documents:
Conclusion Paragraph:
Restate the Thesis (in different words):
Restate the Essay Map (in different words):
Ending Thought (apply the essay to today/the future):
Sample Statements on how to incorporate documents:

According to Jessica Jordan in the 2012 book World History Rules, she asserts that a
government course is essential for high school students.

Written in 2012, the famous history teacher Jessica Jordan from Missouri stated in a TV
interview for new show The Weekly, “World History is the best subject ever.”

A U.S. government document from 1787 called The Constitution explains what type of
government Americans have and why it is important.

The Constitution is needed for a strong, central government that can act (Madison,
Federalist Papers).
Show the following when incorporating a document into an essay:
1) Who, What, When, Where, and Why
Who: Author
What: Book, Magazine, Diary, Governing Document, etc.
When: Year written or published
Where: Where was this written, published, or took place
Why: Explain why this document matters to the reader
2) Do NOT state “Document A” or “Document Three”- you must use the actual author and title
of the document.
3) You have to incorporate at least one document per paragraph, and use all the documents at
least once.
Essay Reminders:
 NEVER use 1st Person (no I, me, we, etc.). 3rd Person only!
 Paragraphs are a minimum of 3 sentences. Good body paragraphs are a minimum of 4-6 sentences!
 You cannot Google this answer!
 This essay is solely based off the documents and essay we read in class!
Poor/Off-task behavior will result in a deduction of points from your grade!