Restate the prompt as the thesis.

Provide a historically defensible thesis/claim.

Overgeneralize the topic to develo an argument as the thesis.

Avoid establishing a line of reasoning.

The most significant economic change in the nineteenth century was that Europeans switched from a primary interest in luxury goods to a focus on imports of raw materials for industrial use.

The most significant change in Europe's economic relationship with the rest of the world was Europe's reliance on imports of manufactured goods.

The most significant economic change was the new imperialism, which looked for new captive markets to sell industrial products to.

The most significant change in the relations with the rest of the world was the industrial Revolution making Europe the dominant economic power in the world.

A general statement about the period.

A relevant development(s) in the period.

A restatement of the prompt.

An overgeneralization of the topic.

Provide a passing phrase or reference.

Describe a broader historical context relevant to the prompt.

Make an overly generalized statement about the time period.

Provide context that is not relevant to the prompt.

Joint-stock companies were important.

There were numerous European empires before the 1800s.

The Industrial Revolution/advances in technology and transportation.

Trade was an important part of Europe’s economy.

Trade was an important part of Europe’s economy.

Europeans had established trading posts along the coast of Africa and in key locations on the coasts of India and Southeast Asia.

There were numerous European empires before the 1800s that used ship for goods.

Joint-stock companies were important. to enable Europeans to have ports for commerce.

Identify a single piece of evidence.

Provide evidence that is outside the time period.

Identify at least two specific historical examples relevant to the topic.

Repeat information specified in the prompt.

The Industrial Revolution

The Scramble for Africa

European states developed joint stock companies in Asia.

Abolitionism

European states developed joint stock companies in Asia.

Throughout the century, industrial production in England required resources and materials from overseas.

Identify a single piece of evidence.

Repeat information that is specified in the prompt.

The Industrial Revolution

The Scramble for Africa was triggered by King Leopold’s claim to the Belgian Congo.

Provide evidence that is outside the time period.

Repeat information specified in the prompt.

Demonstrating a complex understanding of historical development.

Using historical reasoning to frame or structure an argument.

Including evidence without reasoning.

Asserting the use of historical reasoning without structuring an argument.

Explaining the nuance of an issue by analyzing multiple variables.

Including evidence but offering no reasoning.

Explaining both similarity and difference.

Confirming the validity of an argument by corroborating multiple perspectives.

Demonstrating a complex understanding of historical development.

Using historical reasoning to frame an argument.

Offering no reasoning to connect evidence to an argument.

Explaining relevant connections within and across periods.

The Congress of Berlin was organized by Bismarck.

Indian soldiers rebelled against the British in 1857 which led to the creation of formal settler empires in Eurasia.

The need for markets for industrial goods was a key change of the nineteenth century, which led to the creation of formal settler colonies.

Europeans went from trading posts on the coast to opening the interior of Africa over the course of the century, in the quest for new resources.

Simply stating historical facts without context is simply the way that leads to a thesis.

Explaining differences in the changes in Europe’s economic relations with different parts of the world.

Listing events in chronological order will set up atimeline that works.

Describing a single event in detail without connecting it to broader themes.