Eighth Grade Final History Test

8th Grade Final Religions Test

1. Complete your Comparative Religions Chart (we will begin this in class).
2. You will use your chart and the readings we’ve done as part of this year’s unit.
3. Choose 1 topic from each of the 3 sets below.
4. You will 2 paragraphs, one comparing and one contrasting for each topic you select. Therefore, you will write a total of 6 paragraphs.

Set One--- Sacred Writings (choose one---write 1 comparison paragraph and 1 contrast paragraph for the topic you choose).
 Compare and contrast the Vedas and Upanishads to the Bible.
 Compare and contrast the Qu’ran and the Bible.
 Compare and contrast the Vedas and Upanishads to the Qu’ran

Set Two--- The Lives of Religious Leaders (choose one---write 1 comparison paragraph and 1 contrast paragraph for the topic you choose).
 Compare and contrast the lives of the Buddha and Jesus.
 Compare and contrast the lives of Muhammad and Jesus.
 Compare and contrast the lives of Buddha and Muhammad.

Set Three---The Spread of Religions (choose one---write 1 comparison paragraph and 1 contrast paragraph for the topic you choose).
 Compare and contrast the spread of Hinduism with the spread of Christianity.
 Compare and contrast the spread of Judaism and the spread of Hinduism.
 Compare and contrast the spread of Buddhism with the spread of Christianity.
 Compare and contrast the spread of Christianity with the spread of Islam.


Attached are directions for writing your paragraphs and a paragraph checklist.


WRITING CONVINCING PARAGRAPHS

1. TOPIC SENTENCE:

Purpose: To present the main idea of the paragraph; to present an argument in response to the question posed.
How: Answer question directly; present argument; offer specifics; give direction to paragraph.

2. EVIDENCE/SUPPORTING DETAIL #1:

Purpose: To defend your topic sentence; to defend your argument.
How: Each piece of evidence used should have three parts = OREO

1) Introduction to evidence
2) Evidence itself (story, detail, quote, description).
3) Analysis of evidence – how it connects to topic sentence; to argument of paragraph; transition to next idea.

3. EVIDENCE/SUPPORTING DETAIL #2/#3:

Same as above: On average you should have TWO-THREE pieces of evidence per paragraph.

4. CONCLUSION:

Purpose: To close out the idea of the paragraph; to offer final analysis and significance; to set up for next paragraph.
How: State how evidence used defends your idea; state significance of your argument and your evidence; summarize paragraph; transition to next paragraph.


PARAGRAPH WRITING CHECKLIST


Topic Sentence:
o Do I present an argument?
o Do I give reasons for my argument?
o Do I target the question?


Evidence:
o Do I use quotes from the text?
o Do I introduce my quotations?
o Do I analyze my evidence?
o Do I include page numbers?


Organization/Transitions:
o Do I present my information in a logical manner?
o Do I transition between sentences smoothly?
o Do I use transitional phrases?


Style:
o Do I vary sentence structure?
o Do I write in a formal manner?
o Do I write in a style that fits the question?


Grammar/Mechanics:
o Did I get rid of spelling errors?
o Did I get rid of grammatical errors?
o Did I write in the correct tense?
o Did I erase personal pronouns?
o Do I write in an active voice?