NAME: __________________________ COLOR: ________ DATE: _________________

ROME ESSAY ASSIGNMENT PACKET

DUE: Friday, Jan. 29, 2010

The purpose of this essay is to analyze the effect that the Roman Empire had on the religions in the
Mediterranean World using independent research skills.

The final product for this assignment is a three-paragraph, thesis-driven analytical essay that answers the
thesis question using specific evidence found through independent research.

The thesis question: On which religion, Christianity or Judaism, did the Roman Empire have the greatest
impact?

You will need to turn in:

• The essay
• Works Cited page
• The rough draft(s)
• Completed outline
• The rubric that is in this packet
• Source cards and note cards
• Web site evaluation sheets for each Web site you used in your essay

The essay itself should contain:

• An introductory paragraph with
o Background information that sets the historical context in which these two religions are
being compared
o A thesis statement that answers the question and includes two vehicles
• TWO body paragraphs that include the following in EACH
o An idea-driven topic sentence that supports the thesis statement and uses a PERSIA GEM
o Background context that introduces each piece of evidence (two in each paragraph)
o Each body paragraph addresses both religions equally
o Each body paragraph analyzes the evidence of Roman impact and comes to a conclusion
that supports the thesis statement
o A link or transition into the next paragraph
• Each piece of evidence that is not common knowledge (found in your textbook, in our notes or in
three different credible source) should have parenthetical citation
• Information from at least one database and two credible Web sources

The essay you turn in should:

□ Be final-draft quality
□ Be typed
□ Be formatted in 12-point Times New Roman, doubled-spaced
□ Be printed out before you get to class. I do not have a printer and do not accept e-mailed
assignments.
□ Have your name on it

The essay will be graded using the rubric included in this packet

This essay is worth a test grade of 80 points. Ten points will be deducted for each school day the essay
is late.
NAME: _________________________ COLOR: _____ DATE: _________________

COMPARISON ESSAY OUTLINE

I. Introduction

a. Background information: _____________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
__

b. Thesis statement: ___________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
___

II. Theme 1 (PERSIA GEM): _________________________________________________

JUDAISM CHRISTIANITY

________________________________
______________________________

________________________________
______________________________

________________________________
______________________________

________________________________
______________________________

Topic sentence: ________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Analysis of the evidence of Roman impact and comes to a conclusion that supports the
thesis statement: __________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_
_______________________________________________________________________
_
_______________________________________________________________________
_

Do your pieces of evidence need parenthetical citation? If so, which ones?

_______________________________________________________________________
_
 III. Theme 2 (PERSIA GEM): _________________________________________________

JUDAISM CHRISTIANITY

________________________________
______________________________

________________________________
______________________________

________________________________
______________________________

________________________________
______________________________

Topic sentence: ________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Analysis of the evidence of Roman impact and comes to a conclusion that supports the
thesis statement: __________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_
_______________________________________________________________________
_
_______________________________________________________________________
_

Do your pieces of evidence need parenthetical citation? If so, which ones?

_______________________________________________________________________
_

No conclusion needed.
NAME: ______________________________ COLOR: _____________ DATE: _________________________

WRITING A THESIS STATEMENT

Thesis question: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

STEP THREE STEP ONE STEP TWO

3 to 4 possible criticisms (“although”) one central argument/idea 4-5 possible controlling ideas (“because”)

Your counter-argument answers the question why? Defend your position.

POSSIBLE VEHICLES (PERSIA GEMs):

__________________________
__________________________

__________________________
Now, write your thesis statement: ____________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__
 COMPARISON ESSAY ON JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE

NAME: _______________________________________________ LATE?: _____________ SCORE: _________________

Category Exemplary Proficient Developing Limited

Introduction/ - Expresses a specific, supportable
Thesis central idea in a sophisticated,
concise manner
- Establishes a clear, concise, and
compelling preview of the paper's
purpose using PERSIA GEM
categories
- Complexity of the religions’ roles
in Roman history is clearly
explained
- Expresses a specific,
supportable central idea in a
concise manner
- Establishes a clear preview of
the paper's purpose using
PERSIA GEM categories
- Background information on the
religions in Roman history is
included
- Expresses a vague, somewhat
supportable central idea
- Attempts to preview the
paper's purpose
- Some background
information on the religions in
Roman history is mentioned
- Expresses an extremely vague,
trite and/or insupportable central
idea
- Neglects to preview the paper's
purpose
- The religions’ role in Roman
history is not clear

Content - Employs balanced evidence per
body paragraph that is relevant to the
central idea and addresses both
religions.
-Body paragraphs deal with 2
distinctly different ideas.
- Body paragraphs are linked with
relevant, sophisticated transitions.
- Employs balanced evidence per
body paragraph that is relevant to
the central idea but does not
address both religions.
-Body paragraphs have 2 different
ideas.
- Body paragraphs are linked with
transitions.
- Employs evidence per body
paragraph that is somewhat
relevant to the central idea but
does not address both religions
equally.
-Body paragraphs are somewhat
similar in topic.
- Transition is attempted.
- Provides little or no evidence
relevant to the central idea.
- Body paragraph topics are
repetitive.
- No transition is attempted.

Analysis -Develops and analyzes all evidence
with sophistication and originality,
taking risks with ideas.
-Thoughtful topic sentences are idea-
driven.
-Develops and analyzes most of the
evidence, taking limited risks with
ideas.
-Topic sentences are mostly idea-
driven.
-Reiterates content with minimal - Does not attempt analysis.
analysis. - Paragraphs have no real
-Paragraphs begin with basic beginning.
topic sentences.

Conventions/Process - Uses appropriate grammar and spells - Uses appropriate grammar and - Makes grammatical and - Makes grammatical and spelling
correctly throughout. spells correctly most of the time. spelling errors that distract but do errors that compromise meaning.
- Uses the correct citation format - Uses the correct citation format not compromise the meaning. - Does not use citations.
consistently in essay and bibliography most of the time in both essay and - Uses incorrect citation formats - Bibliography is missing.
- At least three varied sources are used bibliography. in either essay or bibliography.
and listed in the bibliography - three sources are used and listed - Fewer than three sources are
in the bibliography used and listed in the
bibliography