Compare and contrast the causes and impact of American 
economic growth and recessions, especially focusing on the 1929 Great Depression and 
the 2007 recession

One and a half page history essay.

What are the prompts?

Compare and contrast

Definition of compare:

to examine the character or qualities of especially in order to discover resemblances or differences

Definition of contrast:

compare or appraise in respect to differences

What is being compared and contrasted?

the causes and impact of American economic growth and recessions

Developing the thesis statement:

•       This is a compound question:

•       Causes of economic growth

•       Causes of economic recessions/depressions

•       Impacts of economic growth

•       Impacts of economic recessions/depressions

Write a thesis statement that compares and contrasts the causes and impacts of economic growth.  In addition, write a second statement that compares and contrasts the causes and impacts of economic recessions/depressions.

It is possible to use either two or four topics:

•       Economic growth (causes and impacts)

•       Economic recessions/depressions (causes and impacts)

Or

•       Causes of economic growth

•       Causes of economic recession

•       Impact on economic growth

•       Impact on economic recession

Write a thesis paragraph that (1) incorporates the thesis statement; (2) lists the topics; (3) and explains what evidence will be examined to support the thesis.

Developing the topical paragraphs:

•       There should be one paragraph for each topic identified in the thesis paragraph 

•       The purpose of the topical paragraph is to present relevant facts and explain how these facts support the thesis paragraph

•       Most of the blue highlighted items in the lecture notes are also relevant facts

Developing the conclusion:

•       The last paragraph is the conclusion

•       This is where the thesis statement is reviewed and how the discussion in the topical paragraphs support the thesis statement

•       This is also where the reader can be reminded why the issue is important

0-2: Thesis sentence (answer)

0-2: Thesis paragraph (how you are going to support your answer)

0-1: Supporting paragraphys

0-3: Quality of supporting paragraphs including citing sources

0-2: Historical relevancy and overall quality