Puritan CHQ Writing Response

Central Historical Question: Were the Puritans selfish or selfless?

Directions: Write a response to the central historical question (CHQ): “Were the Puritans
selfish or selfless?” You will need a claim/topic sentence and must use 3 total pieces of
evidence (direct from the text). Make sure you analyze (add your own thoughts) for each
piece of evidence. Don't forget to read over the rubric (see below) before you submit your
response!

1. Response
The Puritans were selfless because …
The Puritans were selfish because …
2. Evidence + Analysis from 'City Upon a Hill'
John Winthrop told the people “ ... .”
In the sermon, “City Upon a Hill”, Winthrop preached “… .”
Winthrop claimed, “... .”
This explains that the Puritans were _____ because…
3. Evidence + Analysis from 'Divine Right to Occupy the Land'
John Cotton mentioned in his sermon, “... .”
In “Divine Right to Occupy the Land”, Cotton claimed “… .”
This proves the Puritans were ______ because…
4. Conclusion: restate response + main ideas
The Puritans were selfless because …
The Puritans were selfish because …
The Puritans, based on sermons by their leader were _____ because …

Type your answer in the box below:

The Puritans were selfish because they only cared about other Puritans. John Cotton basically told the
people that God only favors them and not the natives. This explains that the Puritans were selfish
because if you are selfless you care about everyone not just your people and John Cotton only cared
about his people based on that evidence. In “The Divine Right to Occupy the Land '', Cotton said “The
settling of people in this or that country is the Lord’s decision. Now, God makes room for a people in
three ways:First, He drives out the heathens before them by waging war on the inhabitants” it shows
how he thinks that his people deserve the natives' land and not the natives and that is a selfish trait.
Finally in the end of the sermon he talks about just stealing the land from the native americans no
buying no fighting no nothing just straight up stealing it and I think stealing is a very selfish thing to do
because you're literally taking a thing just for your own benefit and that is extremely selfish. The
Puritans, based on sermons by their leader, were selfish because if you want to drive people out of their
land and you have this delusion that God favors you over the natives, you only care about your people,
your other puritans not anybody else and that is the definition of being selfish.
 CHQ: Extended Response Rubric

4 3 2 1

Responds to the Generally responds Minimally responds Does not state an

question with a to the question with to the question, but original response,
Response reasonable a reasonable lacks a reasonable argument, or
interpretation or interpretation or interpretation or interpretation. There
argument. argument. argument. is no answer to the
question asked.

Justifies response Justifies response Justifies response Does not justify or

using appropriate using some using support claims
Evidence direct evidence from appropriate direct generalizations or using appropriate
all of the resources. evidence from limited appropriate direct evidence.
resources direct evidence.

Analysis is clearly
present after each Analysis is
Some analysis is Little to no analysis
piece of evidence. attempted. Student
attempted and is included in CER or
Student clearly attempted to
included. Analysis analysis is
explained and/or explain and/or
Analysis does not explain irrelevant. It does
elaborated on how elaborate how and
how and why the not explain how and
and why the why the evidence
evidence supports why evidence
evidence supports supports the claim
the claim. supports the claim.
the claim in their in own words
own words.

The conclusion is The conclusion is

The conclusion is Conclusion is not
present but student present but student
present and clearly present. Student did
Conclusion attempted to did not restate
restates the claim not attempt to
restate claim claim and/or main
and main ideas write-
and/or main ideas ideas

Proper spelling and Minor spelling and Many spelling and

grammar. Shows grammar errors grammar errors
Mechanics
command of the and able to which makes it
English language. understand. Writing difficult to
 Writing is organized. is confusing. read/understand..

Comments:

Score: _____/20