Essay Assignment

Was it worth the fight?

Essay Prompt
The Vietnam war was a very controversial war that sparked much conflict on whether or
not U.S. troops should be fighting another country’s war. Throughout the Vietnam War
many questioned what politicians had in mind when sending thousands of military
personnel overseas to fight a war in the name of freedom and democracy. Others, on
the other hand, supported the war in the name of limiting the spread of Communism.

Consider chapter 18 on the Vietnam war from your Zinn book: “The impossible victory:
Vietnam”. Using the evidence provided in the chapter, justify the following:
Was the U.S. was in the right for getting involved in Vietnam and prolonging the
war? Why, or why not?

Your essay must be 2-3 pages(~800-1,000) in length, in MLA

Format, and include the following vocab terms:
1. Freedom (Keywords Book)
2. Democracy
3. Communism
4. Draft
5. Support
6. Protest
7. Ho Chi Minh
8. French Indochina
9. Viet Cong
10. Viet Minh
11. Gorilla Warfare
12. Robert McNamara
Formatting Requirements:
- 12pt. Times New Roman
- One-Inch margins, double-spaced text
- 2-3 pages(~8-00-1,000 words)
- Saved and turned in as a .docx file
- All sources cited using MLA guidelines
- Includes both cited and paraphrased evidence
 Rubric
Element Needs Fair Strong Excellent
Improvement 2 3 4
1

Topic - Steers away - Somewhat - Connects to - Excels in

from topic connects to the the topic connecting to
- No clear topic - Has a good the topic
connection to - Vague understanding - Demonstrates
the topic of the topic good
understanding
of the prompt

Mechanics: - Various - Student - Student has - Student has

Spelling/ mistakes shows spelling/ few grammar/ little to no
Grammar throughout grammar spelling spelling/
paper mistakes but mistakes grammar
mistakes

Evidence - Student - Student - Student - Student

shows very shows shows shows strong
little evidence evidence, but evidence from evidence and
from the has trouble both readings connects it to
reading connecting to - Clearly their point in
- Student point connects to the the essay
doesn’t essay prompt prompt
appropriately - Uses - Uses
apply evidence readings readings
in paper

Explanation/ - Analysis on - Vaguely - Explains and - Clearly

Analysis prompt not explains/ analyzes views explains and
clearly analyzes views on the essay analyzes essay
identified on essay prompt prompt
prompt