Canadian Pacific Railway Mini-Essay - Instructions and Checklist
You will write a mini-essay that details why the Canadian Pacific Railway was built and the impacts that it had on the country and the people who built and used it.
Content
Paragraph 1
3-5 sentences
- This paragraph should introduce the topic (the CPR) and your thesis (that the CPR changed Canada in both positive and negative ways)
- Include sentences that explain what the next three paragraphs will be about:
- Information about the railway (why it was needed, the route that was chosen, how it benefits Canada)
- Impact on Chinese railway workers and Indigenous Peoples
- Western immigration
Paragraph 2
5+ sentences
- This paragraph should include information about the railway
- Why was a cross-country railway needed in Canada?
- Why did they choose the specific route for the railway?
- How would the railway benefit Canada? What could it help do?
Paragraph 3
5+ sentences
- This paragraph should include information about Chinese railway workers
- Why were Chinese immigrants used to build the railway?
- How were they treated? What conditions did they live in? What dangerous jobs did they have to do? What were they paid? Were they prepared properly for Canada?
- How did the ways of life for the Indigenous Peoples change? What were the negative impacts on their food source and land?
Paragraph 4
5+ sentences
- This paragraph should include information about Western immigration into Canada
- How did the CPR help bring people to Western Canada?
- How did Canada advertise to potential immigrants? What propaganda did they use?
- Who did Canada want to come to live in the country and who did they not want? Why?
- How was life for these new immigrants into Western Canada?
Paragraph 5
3-5 sentences
- This paragraph should be a closing paragraph.
- Restate your main idea from Paragraph 1 in different words.
Mini-Essay Checklist Good Copy Name:______________________
Mechanics
- I have 5 paragraphs
- Paragraph 1 is 3-5 sentences
- Paragraphs 2, 3, and 4 are all at least 5 sentences
- Paragraph 5 is 3-5 sentences
- I used TRANSITION WORDS in my essay
- All of my sentences start with a CAPITAL letter
- All of my sentences end with a form of punctuation (! . ?)
- I double-checked my spelling (especially on words I am unsure about)!
Formatting
- There is an INDENT at the start of EACH paragraph
- I have an indent for Paragraph 1
- I have an indent for Paragraph 2
- I have an indent for Paragraph 3
- I have an indent for Paragraph 4
- I have an indent for Paragraph 5
- My essay has a TITLE
- My title is CENTERED
- My title is NOT bolded or underlined
- My name is under my title
- There is a SPACE IN BETWEEN my name and first paragraph
- My WHOLE essay is font Times New Roman
- My WHOLE essay is size 12
- My essay is double spaced
- My essay is ORGANIZED and the order of topics MAKES SENSE
Additional
Attach this paper to your good copy when you are ready to hand in.
DUE DATE:__________________________
