Essays

Throughout this course, students will complete both creative and expository writing assignments.  Of the latter, there are three kinds of essays which are common to both World Culture and World Literature:  Art Essays, Book Essays, and an Historical DBQ (Document-Based Question) Essay. 

Art Essays

An Art Essay is designed to develop students' skills in describing and analyzing the essential components of major works of art.  Each essay focuses on specific time periods, requiring students to select benchmark artistic examples, describe them in depth, and then assess their connection to the values of the time periods.

These essays are NOT research papers, as students are expected to use and cite only class materials, notes, and textbooks.  There are three Art Essays written during the year, one each due in October, November, and March.  Check the course calendar for the Art Essay due dates.

Click on the Art Essay grading rubric to view the assessment criteria.

Book Essays

A Book Essay is an in-class writing assignment based on an outside reading book which students select from within designated time periods on our reading list.  These essays are modeled after the types of essays that students will encounter on the English Regents Examination at the end of their junior year.

There are two Book Essays written during the year, one each due in October and January.  Check the course calendar for the Book Essay due dates.

Historical Document-Based Question

A DBQ is an in-class writing assignment based on a series of scaffolding questions related to a specific historical topic.  The DBQ requires an essay modeled after one of the essays that students will encounter on the Global History and Geography Regents exam at the end of their sophomore year.

There is one interdisciplinary DBQ written in February.  Check the course calendar for the assignment date.

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