Regents Essay Set I
- Rosie Jayde Uyola
- Sep 10, 2025
- 8 min read
This guide will show you how to write a great essay for Short-Essay Question Set 1 and get the highest score. It is all about following two main steps and using specific details.
Step 1: Write a Great First Paragraph (Historical Context)
Your first paragraph is your chance to set the scene. You need to show your teacher that you understand what was happening in the country at the time of the documents.
How to get a Score 5 on this part:
Give a full and correct explanation. Do not just say "The Great Depression happened." Instead, explain why it was a major event.
For example: Talk about how the Stock Market Crash of 1929 led to banks failing and people losing all their money. Explain that this created a big debate about how the government should help.
Use specific details from history. Mention things you learned in class that are connected to the documents.
For example: You can talk about how President Herbert Hoover believed in "rugged individualism" and that people should help themselves, not rely on the government. You can also mention "Hoovervilles" to show how bad things were.
Step 2: Write a Great Second Paragraph (Connecting the Documents)
Your second paragraph is where you show the connection between the documents. For this question, the easiest connection to explain is the difference between Hoover's and Roosevelt's ideas.
How to get a Score 5 on this part:
Show a very clear connection. State exactly how the two leaders' ideas are different. Your point should be easy to understand.
Use specific proof from both documents. You must use direct examples from Document 1 (Hoover) and Document 2 (Roosevelt) to prove your point.
For example: Point to Document 1 and say that Hoover wanted to fix the problem with "voluntary giving" and that he thought direct government help was bad.
Explain why the difference matters. Your best essays will explain the importance of this difference.
For example: You could say that Roosevelt's ideas for the New Deal were a big turning point and showed a new way of thinking about the government's role in the economy, which was very different from what Hoover believed.
Checklist for a Score 5 Essay (cross out as you write)
⃞ Paragraph 1: Did I use specific details about the Great Depression and why it led to a debate about government help?
⃞ Paragraph 1: Did I use key terms like "Stock Market Crash," "rugged individualism," or "Hoovervilles"?
⃞ Paragraph 2: Did I clearly state the difference between Hoover's and Roosevelt's ideas?
⃞ Paragraph 2: Did I use specific proof from both Document 1 and Document 2 to support my point?
⃞ Paragraph 2: Did I explain why this difference was a major change in American history?
How Your Essay Is Scored
This table shows you exactly what a teacher looks for to give you a score of 3, 4, or 5. Use this to check your own work.
Score | How to Set the Scene (Historical Context) | How to Connect the Documents |
Score 5 | You give a full and correct explanation of the time period. You explain the problems of the Great Depression, like the Stock Market Crash and how banks failed. You also explain why this led to a big debate about how the government should help people. You use specific details like "Hoovervilles" and the idea of "rugged individualism." | You show the connection between the documents in a very clear and detailed way. You explain why Hoover's and Roosevelt's ideas are so different. You use specific proof from both documents. Example: You say that Hoover wanted "voluntary giving" and that this is the opposite of Roosevelt's idea of the government "recruiting" people for jobs. You explain that Roosevelt's plan was a major change in government. |
Score 4 | You explain the historical setting well, but it might not be as detailed as a Score 5. You mention the Great Depression and the problems, but you might not explain them fully. Example: You say the stock market crashed and people lost jobs, but you don't explain why that led to a debate about government help. | You show the connection between the documents and use proof from both. Your explanation is solid but might be more of a simple summary than a deep explanation. Example: You say that Hoover's document is about helping people with charity and Roosevelt's is about the government creating jobs, but you don't fully explain why this difference is so important or what it meant for the country. |
Score 3 | You include some information about the historical setting, but it is too general or has a small mistake. You might mention the Great Depression but not give any details. Example: You say "The Great Depression was a bad time for the U.S.," but you don't mention the Stock Market Crash or other facts. | You show a connection between the documents, but your explanation is unclear or weak. You may only use proof from one document or not use the proof very well. Example: You might say, "Hoover and Roosevelt had different ideas," but you do not use any specific quotes or examples from the documents to prove this. |
Sample Essay: Score 5
This is an example of what an excellent essay looks like. It follows all the steps we talked about to get a perfect score.
Paragraph 1: Historical Context
The Great Depression was a time of huge economic hardship for the United States, starting with the Stock Market Crash of 1929. The crash caused banks to fail and millions of people to lose their jobs and savings. By the early 1930s, the country was in a deep crisis. At this time, President Herbert Hoover believed in the idea of "rugged individualism," which meant people should solve their own problems without a lot of government help. Hoover believed that charities and local governments should be in charge of helping the poor, and he was against direct federal aid. As a result, many people lost their homes and lived in shantytowns they called "Hoovervilles," showing how bad the economy was. This historical setting explains why the debate over government action was so important.
Paragraph 2: The Difference Between the Documents
The documents show a clear and important difference in the ideas of President Hoover and future President Franklin D. Roosevelt about how to fix the Great Depression. In Document 1, President Hoover explains his view that direct federal relief would "strike at the roots of self-government" and that help should come from "voluntary giving and the responsibility of local government." He believed that the government should not get too involved. In contrast, Document 2 shows that Franklin D. Roosevelt had a completely different idea. In his Inaugural Address, he stated that the government's "greatest primary task is to put people to work" and that this could be done "by direct recruiting by the Government itself." This call for direct government action and the start of his New Deal programs, like the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Works Progress Administration (WPA), was a major turning point. Roosevelt's belief that the government had a duty to create jobs and help its citizens was a big change from the ideas of President Hoover.
Why This Essay Is a Score 5:
Historical Context: It gives a full explanation, starting with the Stock Market Crash and mentioning specific details like "rugged individualism" and "Hoovervilles."
Document Connection: It directly explains the difference between the two leaders' ideas. It uses specific words and phrases from both documents to prove its point.
Outside Information: It connects the documents to other things from history, like the New Deal and specific New Deal programs (CCC, WPA), which shows a deep understanding of the topic.
Clarity: The essay is clear and easy to follow, with a strong argument supported by facts.
Sample Essay: Score 4
This is an example of a solid essay that does a good job but could be improved to get the highest score. It shows that you understand the task.
Paragraph 1: Historical Context
The United States faced a major economic problem called the Great Depression in the 1930s. The economy was doing badly, and many people lost their jobs after the stock market crashed. This was a difficult time for the whole country. President Herbert Hoover was in charge at the beginning of the Depression. He believed that the government should not get too involved in helping people directly. He thought that private groups and local governments should be the ones to provide help. This situation set the stage for a big debate in the country over what the government should do.
Paragraph 2: The Difference Between the Documents
The documents show that President Hoover and President Franklin D. Roosevelt had different ideas about how the government should help during the Great Depression. In Document 1, President Hoover says that federal relief would "strike at the roots of self-government" and that help should come from "voluntary giving." This shows he did not want the national government to get too involved. In contrast, Document 2 shows that Franklin D. Roosevelt believed the government should take direct action. He said that the government's job was "to put people to work" and that this could be done "by direct recruiting by the Government itself." This shows that Roosevelt had a new plan for the government to take a bigger role and to help people find jobs.
Why This Essay Is a Score 4:
Historical Context: It correctly identifies the Great Depression and mentions the stock market crash. However, it lacks specific details like "Hoovervilles" or the idea of "rugged individualism," which would make it a stronger Score 5 response.
Document Connection: It accurately explains the difference between the two leaders' ideas and uses proof from both documents. But, it is more descriptive. It does not go as deep into why this was such a major change or mention specific New Deal programs by name.
Clarity: The essay is clear and gets the point across, but it lacks the extra depth and specific examples that would make it a top-level essay.
Sample Essay: Score 3
This is an example of an essay that is on the right track but needs to be more specific. It shows a basic understanding but is missing a lot of details and clear connections.
Paragraph 1: Historical Context
The Great Depression was a bad time for the United States. Many people were out of work and had a hard time finding food. The economy was not doing well, and people were worried about their future. President Hoover was president when the Depression started. He thought that the government should not do too much to help the people.
Paragraph 2: The Difference Between the Documents
The documents show that President Hoover and President Roosevelt had different ideas. In Document 1, Hoover talks about helping people with charity. In Document 2, Roosevelt talks about the government putting people to work. They had different ways of thinking about how to solve the problem. Roosevelt's idea was a change from Hoover's idea.
Why This Essay Is a Score 3:
Historical Context: It is very general. It correctly identifies the Great Depression but provides no specific details or examples, such as the stock market crash, banks failing, or "Hoovervilles." The explanation of Hoover's beliefs is also very basic.
Document Connection: It identifies the difference between the two leaders' ideas, but the explanation is weak and relies on very general descriptions ("talks about charity," "talks about the government putting people to work"). It does not use specific quotes or phrases from the documents to prove its point, and it does not explain why the difference was important.
Overall Quality: The essay is too short and lacks the depth and evidence needed to be a Score 4 or 5. It shows that the student has read the documents but has not fully analyzed them or connected them to their outside knowledge.
