Brazil, located on the eastern coast of South America, covers almost half the continent of South America. Its boundaries touch every other country of South America except those of Chile and Ecuador. Although Spanish is the major language of South America, most of the people of Brazil speak Portuguese. The geography of Brazil can be studied by looking at the regions. The major regions of Brazil are listed below.

Amazon lowlands
central highlands
Sertó region
southern region
coastal region
You will choose two of these regions and compare and contrast them within a five paragraph written report. You will also create a visual representation to include within your report.

Prior to researching, you will first need to establish an essential question. An essential questions is developed in order to guide research; finding the answer to an essential question will lead to an understanding of the topic. An example essential question could be:

In what ways does the history of the two regions influence the areas today?

As you gather your supporting evidence, make sure to record the sources for all of your notes. Also, paraphrase information found, so that you do not plagiarize.
The second step in developing a topic, is to establish your purpose and gather your supporting evidence.

When establishing your purpose, consider the key idea or concept you want to get across to your reader. For instance, perhaps you want to explain how two regions are connected? What evidence might you need in order to do this? Establishing your purpose helps you to narrow and focus your evidence. It also allows you to go back and check that you have achieved your goal. You can ask yourself, "Did I explain how the two regions are connected?"

Supporting evidence includes details, definitions, examples, facts, illustrations, and quotations you will use to explain (or support) your topic. Watch the following video on gathering supporting evidence to learn more.

As you research your topic, think about what information could be presented visually. Could a map, chart, or graph make the information easier to understand? As in writing, you should create a draft of your graphics. Make sure to include a title for your visual element.

After gathering your research, you are ready to begin writing your first draft.

Your first paragraph should be an introduction that includes:
A hook
Narrowing the focus
Your thesis statement
Your body paragraphs will include:
A topic sentence explaining your main idea
Supporting evidence (this is a good place to include textual evidence and citations)
Your conclusion will include:
A restatement of your thesis statement
A summary of your main points
A call to action or closing statement
Revising
Once you are happy with your draft, use the following checklist for a final review of your essay. You should look at the rubric here to make sure you are meeting all the criteria for the assignment.