The Essay Exams are designed to get you to think analytically and critically about the material and present your assessment in an organized and coherent manner. It is also important to incorporate information from as many of the assigned reading assignments and videos as possible so as to exhibit a depth and breadth of knowledge on the topic.
The Prompt:
In your view, what were the three dominate changes to California society from the 1860s through the Great Depression of the 1930s? Why did those changes occur and do you consider those changes beneficial or harmful to California society?
Expectations
You will find ample information to address these questions in The Elusive Eden textbook, videos and Discussion documents. Essay responses should show a thorough understanding of the readings and be college level (clear, organized, without typographical errors, logical, etc.)
Your essay should have an introduction with a clear argument, a well-developed body with ample supporting evidence, a conclusion that provides some final analysis, and be about seven paragraphs in length (paragraphs should be at least five sentences in length but often longer). Your argument is your brief answer to the question while the body of the essay is used to provide detailed historical examples to support your argument. Although analysis of the material should be woven into the body of your essay, the conclusion is where you will be able to show that you have thought about the material in a critical and analytical way (rather than simply regurgitating information). Also, remember that any information included in your essay should be pertinent to answering the question asked of you.
Citations
For the purposes of this essay, you can use parenthetical citation. Please only use information from within the confines of this class, such as video lectures, the textbook, primary documents, and any other assigned readings.
Example for Video Lecture citation: (Video 1).
Example for Textbook citation: (Rice, 42).
Example for a Document citation: (“The Big Four”, 198).
Important Tips
Because you have the question in advance, your essays should not have any grammatical errors or typos, should be written in fluid prose and indicate a clear command of the material.
Turnitin, a plagiarism detection software, is used for this assignment. 
There are five Video Lectures for by “The Clynical Historian” this is very helpful for this essay as well :
Video 6: Civil War and Reconstruction
Video 7: Radical Conflict  
Video 8: Trains and Oil 
Video 9: History of Hollywood 
Video 10: Dust Bowl and California 
TEXT BOOK NEEDED FOR CITING TOO ;
The Elusive Eden (A new history of California) fifth Edition 
By : 
Richard B. Rice
William A. Bullough
Richard J. Orsi
Mary Ann Irwin
Michael F. Magliari
Cecilia M. Tsu
Please make sure thesis is clear 🙂
The goal of this essay is to have about 7 paragraphs or maybe more if you please.