NEW YORK STATE REGENTS EXAMS
GLOBAL HISTORY & GEOGRAPHY - JANUARY 2002
ANSWER KEY

Content-Specific Rubric - Thematic Essay—January 2002

Score of 5:
• Shows a thorough understanding of how specific geographic factors have influenced the
historical development or a specific historical event in a nation or region
• Thoroughly addresses all aspects of the task evenly and in depth by identifying two nations
and/or regions, describing the two geographic factors identified for each nation and/or region,
and explaining the influence of each of these four factors on the historical development or on a
specific historical event in these nations and/or regions
• Shows an ability to analyze and evaluate the influence of geographic factors by including
comments of an analytical and/or evaluative nature, e.g., the island location of Japan provided
protection from invasion and allowed Japan to practice selective borrowing, but it also forced
Japan to seek an overseas empire in the 20th century to obtain the raw materials necessary to
become an industrialized nation
• Richly supports the theme with relevant facts, examples, and details, e.g., the need to acquire
warm-water ports led to Peter the Great’s wars; the central location of the Ottoman Empire
helped encourage the Age of Exploration in Europe
• Is a well-developed essay, consistently demonstrating a logical and clear plan of organization
• Introduces the theme of the influence of geographic factors on nations and/or regions by
establishing a framework that is beyond a simple restatement of the task and concludes with a
summation of the theme

Score of 4:
• Shows a good understanding of how specific geographic factors have influenced the historical
development or a specific historical event in a nation or region
• Addresses all aspects of the task but may do so unevenly, completing the different aspects of
the task more thoroughly for one nation or region than for the second nation or region
• Shows an ability to analyze and evaluate the influence of geographic factors by including some
comments of an analytical and/or evaluative nature
• Includes relevant facts, examples, and details but may not support these details evenly, e.g.,
discussing rivers and coal deposits in England and their connection to the start of the Industrial
Revolution in England but not providing specific details such as the use of water power, the canal
system, new inventions, mining, the effect of abundant natural resources, or new imperialism
• Is a well-developed essay, demonstrating a logical and clear plan of organization
• Introduces the theme of the influence of geographic factors on nations and/or regions by
establishing a framework that is beyond a simple restatement of the task and concludes with a
summation of the theme

Score of 3:
• Shows a satisfactory understanding of how specific geographic factors have influenced the
historical development or a specific historical event in a nation or region
• Addresses most aspects of the task or addresses all aspects in a limited way
• Shows some ability to analyze and evaluate the influence of geographic factors, but not in any
depth, and is more descriptive than analytical
• Incorporates some facts, examples, and details; may contain some inaccuracies
• Is a satisfactorily developed essay, demonstrating a general plan of organization
• Introduces the theme of the influence of geographic factors on nations and/or regions by
repeating the task and concludes by repeating the theme

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