How to Write a Social Studies EssayNotes to be taken in Cornell Note

Form

1. NO I, Me, We, Us or My

Social studies essays are not your opinions

Social studies essays are a restatement of the facts

I.e. “I don’t like President Wilson.”Instead: “Many historians state that President Wilson created a hostile working environment for African Americans.”

Turn to a neighbor and tell them about a teacher you have had WITHOUT USING I, ME, WE, US or MY.

2. No “is” or “was”

I.e. “George Washington is considered a cold dude.”

Instead: “George Washington, often considered a cold dude, refused to shake hands with visitors to the White House.”

I.e. “Thomas Jefferson was the third president of the United States.”

Instead: “Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, wrote the Declaration of Independence.”

http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples/examples-of-active-and-passive-voice.html

2. No “is” or “was”

No, would be, could be, might be…

Use an action word

i.e. He fought, It creates, connects, controls, holds…

Turn these sentences into ACTIVE

2. No “is” or “was”

The treaty is being signed by the two kings. (passive)

Instructions will be given to you by the director. (passive)

3. No @,#,lol or

slang.

You can not use abbreviations.

Exception: B.C. (before Christ) A.D. (AD actually stands for the Latin phrase "anno domini" which means "in the year of our Lord.“) When writing numbers, all numbers under 100 must be spelt out. 99= ninety-nine, 1= one (except dates)

4. No Absent Antecedents

You may not begin a paragraph without introducing the person first.

I.e. He created the Declaration of Independence.

Who is he?

Thomas Jefferson created the DoI.

Once introduced you can use. He or Mr. Jeffeson…

fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too. Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd

waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at

Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno’t mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghi t

pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the

huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I

awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

5. No a lot or got

• Just tell me the number, or many, dozens, hundreds, thousands.

• Got = received

Turn to your neighbor, and in a complete sentence, say how many people attend Haltom High School.

Why not Wikipedia

The U. S. Government, who illegally manipulates the weather, creates such distractions each and every time President Obama is under intense scrutiny.

Summary

• Across the bottom, write a short summary with information from EACH of the 5 areas above.