Gilded Age ESSAY
Choose one of the questions:
A. Robert Hunt quote, followed by, “Competition
and a drive toward innovation…”
B. Mark Twain coined the term “gilded age” to
describe….
C. In 1912, Woodrow Wilson declared that
“freedom today is something….”
Intro paragraph structure
Hook

Historical Context to
set stage for thesis:
Broad on Gilded
Age to more
specific info
relevant to
thesis
Thesis Statement: last, ONE sentence
ESSAY INTRODUCTION
Effective hook? -- catchy, dramatic, intriguing…avoid cliché
Context BEFORE thesis -- to set the stage for your thesis
Need BOTH -- including time frame/years:
- Basic intro to Gilded Age
- Time frame, key trends, key players
- More specific context for your thesis argument
(anything necessary so that your thesis is
SELF EVIDENT to an unfamiliar reader)
Thesis: ONE sentence, last in intro., FULL ARGUMENT
i.e., addresses ALL parts of the essay question
All the questions ask you to evaluate
the Gilded Age society: economic,
political/gov’t, social
Questions are all about “balance”
• Impact of competition?
• Achievements vs. flaws of the
Gilded Age?
• Role of gov’t and its impact on
democratic freedoms?
BUILDING YOUR THESIS
STATEMENT
Take apart the essay question
-Define “competition.”
-What is meant by
““freedom
to compete”
in Gilded Age
context?
KEEP your
focus on
“competition”
throughout essay
Consider the effects of
competition (and lack of
competition) in social,
economic, and political
spheres
Positive
contributions
to
society
Negative
contributions
to
society
BUILDING YOUR THESIS
STATEMENT
Take apart the essay question
Define
‘Gilded
Age’
Achievements
of the era
Consider social,
economic, and political
spheres
“cheap and
flawed”
BUILDING YOUR THESIS
STATEMENT
Take apart the essay question
Define
role of
the U.S.
gov’t in
Gilded Age
Need to define what
comprises
“democratic
freedoms”
Consider social,
economic, and political
spheres
Ways gov’t fulfilled
its obligation to defend
democratic
freedoms
Ways gov’t failed
to fulfill its
obligation to defend
democratic
freedoms
First steps to dev thesis
• Review last units : APAN 18,
19, 20, Readers, Hwk & Class
Notes
• Consider: range of players and
issues, benefits/opportunities
vs. obstacles/challenges
• Be clear: WHY it’s happening,
NOT simply telling what
happened.
ALL TOPIC SENTENCES
Connect in some way to thesis’ argument
Like a “mini-thesis” for the paragraph (ANALYTIC > WHY)
Reflect ALL the evidence in that paragraph (and vice versa)
ONE sentence; avoid using semi-colon
EVIDENCE
Matches the Topic Sentence
Sufficient and specific -- includes YEARS
Demonstrates knowledge of the Gilded Age
Uses a range of class materials; NO outside
sources
Includes MLA format parenthetical cites.
CONCLUDING
PARAGRAPH
Provides summary of your argument
Do NOT simply repeat same wording as intro
Last sentence provides sense of closure
Imagine someone had no time to read your full
essay -- this should be an effective
summary that can “stand alone.”
KEY GUIDELINES
*CHECKLIST: MUST complete and turn in with final essay
**STYLE GUIDE: follow grammar and mechanics rules
**WRITTEN WORK FORMAT: use to set up page
(header, margins, page #s)
12 pt font, Times New Roman, double spaced
MLA parenthetical cites in both outline and final essay
Length: 3 full pages TYPED (CANNOT exceed 4)
*see web page for class
** see web page Ref & Resources
Be sure to proofread