Unit 1 Long Essay Question (LEQ)

Rosie Jayde Uyola
Sep 16, 2025
2 min read

Essential Question (Aim)

To what extent did European colonization have a positive effect on Europeans and Native Americans?

Learning Targets

I can evaluate the extent to which European colonization caused positive effects on Europeans and Native Americans by writing a Long Essay Question (LEQ) response.
I can develop a historically defensible thesis and support it with specific historical evidence.
I can interpret the components of a LEQ rubric to structure my essay.

Domain Vocabulary

Thesis: A statement or theory that is put forward as a premise to be maintained or proved.
Contextualization: The process of placing a historical event in its broader setting to understand it better.
Causation: The action of causing something; the relationship between cause and effect.
Evidence: The available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid.
Complexity: The quality of being intricate and complicated; in history, this involves understanding multiple perspectives and nuances.

Do Now (Initiation Task – 5 minutes)

Prompt: With a partner, explain the concept of a cause-and-effect relationship in your own words using our work from unit 1. Write as many examples as you can think of.

Activity 1: Cause and Effect Flow Chart

Directions: Use your knowledge from previous lessons on the Columbian Exchange and Spanish colonization to complete the flow chart. Focus on the relationships between different events and developments.

Activity 2: LEQ Brainstorm and Outline

LEQ Prompt: To what extent did European colonization have a positive effect on Europeans and Native Americans?

Step 1: Understand the Rubric.

Review the LEQ rubric with your partner. Pay close attention to the requirements for a thesis statement and the use of evidence.

Step 2: Think-Ink-Pair-Share.

Think (Individual): Jot down some initial ideas and evidence that could be used to answer the prompt.

Ideas for Europeans: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ideas for Native Americans:

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ink (Individual): Based on your ideas, draft a possible thesis statement. Remember, a good thesis takes a clear stance and is historically defensible.

Exit Ticket - Pair wiith a Partner): Share your draft thesis and brainstormed evidence. Provide feedback to your partner. Does their thesis directly answer the prompt? Is their evidence specific and relevant? Write feedback here:

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________