Name: Date:

Maya Achievements Essay Prompt

What was the Mayas most remarkable achievement?

Instructions:
Based on your knowledge of the Achievements of the Maya civilization, you must write a
short essay. In the Essay you will briefly write about the three Maya achievements we
studied in class. Then, you will choose one Maya achievement that you think was the
most remarkable based on what your learned and you will provide support of your claims
using evidence from the documents. The assignment will be graded on content and on a
scale of 1-4 and it must include the following guidelines:

The essay must contain an introduction and conclusion and 2 body paragraphs.
Address the three achievements learned in the lesson counter argue why one is
more remarkable than the other two.
Provide reasoning of why you think a specific achievement is the most
remarkable.
Each paragraph must be at least 5-7 sentences long.
Cite information used from the sources (Ex. Doc. 1).

There will be 25 minutes of class to work on the essay on the Chrome books. If you dont
finish it will be for homework. You must submit your work digitally to the teacher when
you finish the essay. The rubric for the essay is located on the second page, look at it so
you know what you will be graded on.
 Mayas Achievements Essay Rubric

CATEGORY 4 3 2 1 Points
Excellent Good Satisfactory Need Improvement
Content Essay has central Central idea is Unable to find Essay had no central
idea clearly stated vague; non- specific supporting idea or supporting
in opening supportive to the details; more than 4 details.
paragraph; topic; lacks focus. errors in information.
Appropriate,
concrete arguments
support central
idea.
Organization Essay is logically Essay somewhat Central point and Ideas were not
organized and well digresses from flow of essay is lost; organized and were
structured central idea; ideas lacks continuity and vague; no flow was
displaying a do not logically organization. followed.
beginning, body follow each other.
and conclusion.
Critical Thinking Analysis is clear, Thinking of the Thinking of the Thinking of the student
with no second students lacks student is open to shows no logic, no
thought of meaning acceptable interpretation, shows decision making, very
in language. decision-making, no decision-making, open to interpretation.
Students thinking little analysis but but does show some
is consistent and shows some logic. logic.
logic.
Style Writing is coherent Sentences are Lack of creativity Writing is confusing,
and consistent with varied and and focus. Unrelated hard to follow. Contains
central idea. inconsistent with word choice to fragments and/or run-
Sentences are central idea, word central idea. Choice on sentences.
strong and choices and and use of words is Inappropriate choice
expressive with vocabulary. inconsistent. and use of words.
varied structure.
Words are well
chosen and used
appropriately.