CONTEXTUALIZATION :

THE OPENING ACT OF YOUR ESSAY

(& a thesis review)

The CB rubric states:

Describes a broader historical context relevant to the prompt.

To earn this point, the response must relate the topic of the prompt to broader historical events, developments, or processes that occur before, during, or continue after the time frame of the question.

This point is not awarded for merely a phrase or a reference

SOME KEY REQUIREMENTS

1. “Contextualization” starts your LEQ and DBQ essay
2. It is one paragraph, 4-6 sentences
3. It contains 2-3 factual details (nouns) that give evidence to what you’re saying
4. It leads the reader to your thesis.
5. The thesis should be at the end of your contextualization and thus make your opening paragraph approximately 6-8 sentences long.
6. If done correctly, you’ve scored 2 of your 6 available points by the end of the first paragraph.

PROMPT: Assess the extent to which the Articles of Confederation addressed the political challenges of America between 1775 and 1787

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PROMPT: Assess the extent to which the Articles of Confederation addressed the political challenges of America between 1775 and 1787

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Any new country will face trouble and the political challenges that America faced in the 1770’s and 1780’s were large. The country was at war for independence against Great Britain. There were international issues and alliances (france) to deal with, vast western lands to manage, social unrest to address and an economy to get started. America’s first government, under the Articles of Confederation was tasked with managing these political challenges and found both success and failure. Despite winning the war and managing western lands - both great successes - the AoC ultimately failed to adequately address the political challenges of creating a working economy, quelling uprisings and forming a strong, stable government and these missteps are glaring contrasts to the few successes it gained.

PROMPT: Assess the extent to which the Articles of Confederation addressed the political challenges of America between 1775 and 1787

​

Any new country will face trouble and the political challenges that America faced in the 1770’s and 1780’s were large. The country was at war for independence against Great Britain. There were international issues and alliances (france) to deal with, vast western lands to manage, social unrest to address and an economy to get started. America’s first government, under the Articles of Confederation was tasked with managing these political challenges and found both success and failure. Despite winning the war and managing western lands - both great successes - the AoC ultimately failed to adequately address the political challenges of creating a working economy, quelling uprisings and forming a strong, stable government and these missteps are glaring contrasts to the few successes it gained.

THESIS

PROMPT: Assess the extent to which the Articles of Confederation addressed the political challenges of America between 1775 and 1787

​

Any new country will face trouble and the political challenges that America faced in the 1770’s and 1780’s were large. The country was at war for independence against Great Britain. There were international issues and alliances (france) to deal with, vast western lands to manage, social unrest to address and an economy to get started. America’s first government, under the Articles of Confederation was tasked with managing these political challenges and found both success and failure. Despite winning the war and managing western lands - both great successes - the AoC ultimately failed to adequately address the political challenges of creating a working economy, quelling uprisings and forming a strong, stable government and these missteps are glaring contrasts to the few successes it gained.

FACTS

PROMPT: Assess the extent to which the Articles of Confederation addressed the political challenges of America between 1775 and 1787

​

Any new country will face trouble and the political challenges that America faced in the 1770’s and 1780’s were large. The country was at war for independence against Great Britain. There were international issues and alliances (france) to deal with, vast western lands to manage, social unrest to address and an economy to get started. America’s first government, under the Articles of Confederation was tasked with managing these political challenges and found both success and failure. Despite winning the war and managing western lands - both great successes - the AoC ultimately failed to adequately address the political challenges of creating a working economy, quelling uprisings and forming a strong, stable government and these missteps are glaring contrasts to the few successes it gained.

COMPARE/CONTRAST