Essay Planning

1. Essay Planning Introduction Thesis Analysis

2. A Thesis Statement • tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion • directly answers the question asked of you • is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself. (The subject, or topic, of an essay might be the Sumerian achievements; a thesis must then offer a way to understand these achievements.) • makes a claim that others might dispute • is usually a single sentence

3. Your Task: • Discuss whether or not the Neolithic Revolution was really a revolution.

4. The Paleolithic Period • Beginning of human life-10,000 BCE • Nomads • Lived in groups of 20-20 • Hunting & gathering

5. The Neolithic Revolution • Agriculture • Permanent settlements • Social classes • Eventual rise of civilizations • Technologies -better tools/weapons • Calendar to keep track of planting

7. Revolution: • People feel helpless & held down by restrictions • Scholars & thinkers give up on current way of life • Change, overturn, overthrow • Often associated with violence • A revolution is a sudden overthrow of established political, economic, social and cultural institutions and their replacement with new ones, usually accompanied by violence.

8. Introduction • Neolithic Revolution-Background information • Define revolution • Thesis

9. Sample Thesis Statements • The Neolithic Revolution can be considered a revolution because it resulted in a radical, fundamental change in the way people lived. • The Neolithic Revolution cannot be considered a revolution because there is no overthrow of established political, economic, social and cultural institutions and their replacement with new ones, usually accompanied by violence.

10. Body Paragraphs (2) • One reason in each, accompanied by evidence and analysis.

11. Conclusion • Wrap up ideas and extend