1. The Great Wall of China: did the benefits outweigh the costs?
Goal: to develop and write an introductory paragraph that includes a thesis (your opinion) about the Great Wall of China.

2. Pick a Viewpoint
Based what you have learned, do you think building the wall was a good idea?
YES OR NO

3. 3 Reasons
Use the documents to come up with 3 reasons why you feel the way you do. Write these under the buckets.

4. Here are some ideas for your buckets
Good Idea
Security
Increased trade
New ideas
Jobs
Clear boundary of their country
Bad Idea
High mortality (death)
Harsh conditions
Tribute to the Xiongnu
High casualty rate for soldiers
Trade only benefits the rich

5. Fill out your Chicken foot. This is your thesis!
The Great Wall was or was not worth the cost (main line)
Pick your 3 reasons and label the branches with each one.

6. Ready to write (rough draft)
On a separate sheet of paper write the Title of the DBQ

7. Grabber
Make sure you indent your paragraph. Write a short sentence about the Great Wall that will grab the readers attention.
The Xiongnu had been devastating China for centuries.
A 4000 mile wall really shows your neighbor you care.
Thousands of Chinese workers and soldiers died building the Great Wall.
The greatest engineering project man has ever attempted.

8. Second Sentence: Background Information
Write a sentence that talks about who built the wall (two dynasties) and when. You would get this information from the background essay.
Example: Between 221 BCE and 220 CE, the Qin and Han built thousands of miles of dirt wall along their northern border with the Xiongnu.

9. Third Sentence: Restate the Question
Rewrite the question of the DBQ in your own words!
Example: There is no doubt that the building of the wall caused the deaths of thousands of Chinese, but did the benefits outweigh the human cost?

10. Final sentence(s) is your THESIS!
Use your Chicken foot to give your thesis:
Even though the Great Wall is one of the greatest structures ever built by humans, it was not worth the number of deaths. The costs of building the wall included: high casualty rate for soldiers, tribute still had to be paid to the Xiongnu, and the Silk Road Trade only benefited the wealthy in China.