Mr. Richard Romero, Chairperson, Social Studies Department-9th Grade 1st Quarter Project

1^st Quarter Project

Directions:  Over the next few weeks, you will be required to complete a group project on Human Origins, Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, Ancient India, or Ancient China.  In your projects, you will research and include various important events, people, and achievements from one of these time periods.  Prior to beginning this project, your topic must be approved by Mr. Romero.  We will set aside two days each week for you to work on your assignment,  These projects will be due on Tuesday, November 7^th.   Do a good job; it counts as 2 tests!

All projects require the use of our school’s Virtual Reference Collection and Digital Media Library.  The purpose of this project is for you to examine a topic in depth, and learn to use the research materials in our Library.  We will schedule a training session with our Librarian, Mr. Miller.  You will be required to submit a bibliography and print-outs of the sites you used along with your project. Here are the resources which you are limited to using:

Biography

Biography Reference Bank Select Edition         

                                                                            

Encyclopedias

Grolier Encyclopedia Americana      

Grolier MultiMedia Encyclopedia     

Grolier The New Book of Knowledge       

World Book Online                           

VRC Collection

                                                                                                  

ABC-CLIO World History/Ancient & Medieval Eras     

History Study Center    

SIRS Discoverer  

SIRS Researcher (includes World Conflicts)      

World Atlas(World Geography & Culture)           VRC

Your options for the project are as follows:

1)   Newspaper-  This project is designed for groups of 3-4 members. For this option, students must create a newspaper that covers important events that we have gone over in class.  Unlike an actual newspaper, it does not cover a single day in history; instead it may collect events from one or more of the civilizations and time periods we have covered this quarter.     

Try to make the paper look as authentic as possible, including printing it on elongated paper (rather than standard 8.5’ x 11’). It should contain pictures of the topics which are covered in the paper as well as a title for your newspaper.  Don’t let pictures take up your whole paper!  You are to write at least 10 stories, creating at least a six pages for your newspaper.  Make sure your stories are relative to the subjects we have covered in class. I suggest that you try to use Microsoft Publisher on this project (it is on the school computers), as the program has a newspaper format option.  You must include a bibliography! (Mr. Miller will teach you how to create one).  

           

The following is a list of suggested topics; you are not limited to this list:

• The Neolithic Revolution
• Sargon creates an Empire
• The development of Writing (Egypt, Mesopotamia, and China)
• Major events and achievements of the Old Kingdom in Egypt
• Hammurabi’s Code
• Achievements of the Gupta or Maurya
• The building of the Great Wall
• The Silk Road

Grading Components:

40%- Accuracy and relevance of the facts presented, evidence of strong research skills, and overall layout of the paper

20%-bibliography

30%- Overall creativity and artistic license

10%- Grammar, spelling, and word choice (no slang)

Rubric for Newspaper

Accuracy/Relevance/Layout (60%):

1. The majority of information presented is inaccurate and irrelevant to the subject matter, or the paper contains little factual evidence whatsoever.  The paper does not follow the proper newspaper layout AND/OR the text is dominated by large images.
2. Some of the information presented is accurate and relevant, but still much of the paper contains inaccurate and irrelevant information. The newspaper either does not follow the proper newspaper layout, OR the text is dominated by large images.
3. Most of the paper contains accurate and relevant information, with no more than 3 mistakes. The newspaper follows the proper layout, but may excessively use images.
4. Nearly all of the paper contains accurate and relevant information with no more than 1 or 2 mistakes. The newspaper follows the proper layout and contains appropriately sized images, relative to the rest of the paper. The bibliography correctly follows MLA style.
5. The paper contains no inaccurate or irrelevant information. The newspaper follows the proper layout and contains appropriately sized images, relative to the rest of the paper. The bibliography correctly follows MLA style.

Creativity/Artistic License (30%):

1. The newspaper is not creative at all. It is handwritten, or printed on the default settings of Microsoft Word and/or WordPerfect (size 12, Times New Roman, 1 inch margins, etc.), on standard 8.5’ x 11’ white paper, not following the newspaper layout, and uses inappropriate ink colors in the text (anything but black is inappropriate). Contains no images.
2. The newspaper is printed out in the default settings of Microsoft Word and/or WordPerfect (size 12, Times New Roman, 1 inch margins, etc.), on standard 8.5’ x 11’ white paper, not following the newspaper layout, but is done with black ink. Contains images, however, they may not be relevant to the information presented in the articles.
3. The newspaper follows the proper layout. It contains pictures which are relevant to the information presented.
4. The newspaper follows the proper layout. It contains pictures which are relevant to the information presented. The paper is altered in at least 1 way to make it look more authentic (i.e. yellowing of the paper, elongated paper, or some unique idea).
5. The newspaper follows the proper layout. It contains pictures which are relevant to the information presented. The paper looks authentic (i.e. yellowing of the paper, elongated paper, or some unique ideas).

Grammar/Spelling/Word Choice (10%):

1. The newspaper contains 15 or more errors in grammar, spelling, and word choice (slang). The newspaper repeatedly uses incorrect tenses.
2. The newspaper contains 10-15 errors in grammar, spelling, and word choice (slang). The newspaper uses incorrect tenses more than 4 times.
3. The newspaper contains 5-10 errors in grammar, spelling, and word choice (slang). The newspaper uses incorrect tenses no more than 3 times.
4. The newspaper contains no more than 5 errors in grammar spelling, and word choice (slang). The newspaper uses incorrect tenses no more than 2 times.
5. The newspaper contains no more than 3 errors in grammar spelling and word choice (slang). The newspaper uses incorrect tenses no more than 1 time.

2) Physical Maps- This project may be done on either an individual basis or with a partner.  Physical maps are maps which include the elevation of different land formations, represented by the land formations rising off of the construction material.  Your map must not only show the topography of the lands which made up these ancient civilizations, but must detail either some sort of event\process (the Hyksos invasion of Egypt, or the growth of the Assyrian Empire), or illustrate where important city-states, monuments,  and landmarks would be found.  A two-page typed summary must accompany the map, explaining the locations and the event\process which are placed on your map, and why they are significant.

             

The following is a list of suggested topics; you are not limited to this list:

·         The spread of a particular species of hominid

·         Archeological sites of early hominids

·         Archeological sites of Neolithic villages

·         Mesopotamia

·         Egypt

·         Tutmose III’s expansion of Egypt

·         Harappan civilization

·         India under the Gupta

·         India under the Maurya

·         China under the Shang

·         China under the Zhou

·         China under the Han

 

Grading Components:

20%- Two-page summary

10%- bibliography

30%- Geographic accuracy, including land formations, topography, and MAP KEY accuracy

20%- Amount of information presented on the map, and the accuracy of this information

20%- Overall creativity and artistic license

Rubric for Physical Maps

Geographic Accuracy (40%):

1-    Is not geographically accurate for the most part.  Land formations are not close to being on scale with one another, or are incorrect in shape; and/or the majority of sites are labeled incorrectly.  Has no map key, or one that is totally inaccurate.  Lacks topography.

2-    The general land formations of the area are shaped correctly and on scale with one another.  Some of the sites are labeled incorrectly.  Has a map key that is somewhat accurate, along with somewhat accurate topography.

3-    The general land formations of the area are shaped correctly and on scale with one another.  All sites are labeled correctly.  Has an accurate map key, but topography is still lacking in some areas.

4-    The general land formations of the area are shaped correctly, including smaller islands; and all of these land formations are on scale with one another.  All sites are labeled correctly.  Has an accurate map key, as well as accurate topography.

5-    The general land formations of the area are shaped correctly, including smaller islands; and all of these land formations are on scale with one another.  All sites are labeled correctly.  Has an accurate map key that includes features beyond general coloring of areas or symbols to represent cities.  Topography is excellent, with special detail having been paid attention to creating the heights of certain land formations.

Map Information (20%):

1-    Little to no information on the subject is included on the map, or this information is mostly inaccurate.

2-    Limited information on the subject is included on the map.  Some of the information is inaccurate.

3-    A satisfactory amount of information is included on the map.  All of the information is accurate.

4-    A great deal of information is included on the map.  All of the information is accurate.

5-    An outstanding amount of information is included on the map.  All of the information is accurate.

Two-Page Summary (20%):

1-    Paper approximately one page in length, or has no value in terms of content.

2-    Paper approximately one-and-a-half pages in length, or has little value in terms of content.

3-    Paper satisfies the two-page length requirement.  Paper summarizes the main points of the project, and applies them to the historical background of the subject matter.

4-    Paper slightly exceeds the two-page length requirement.  Paper summarizes the main points of the project, but also analyzes some of the detail put into the project; applying both of these topics to the historical background of the subject matter.

5-    Paper well exceeds the two-page length requirement.  Paper summarizes the main points of the project, but also analyzes all of the detail put into the project; both of these topics are then applied to the historical background of the subject matter.

Overall Creativity (10%):

1-    No creativity (i.e. lacks coloring, or is sloppy)

2-    Some creativity (i.e. is colored, but colors may be confusing or sloppily done)

3-    Creative (i.e. colors used in a neat and orderly fashion)

4-    Very Creative (i.e. several colors used to mean several different things in a neat  and orderly fashion)
5-    Extremely Creative (i.e. many colors used to mean many different things in a neat and orderly fashion)

3) Models- This project may be done on either an individual basis or in groups of up to three students.  For this option, students must create a model of a structure found in ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, or China.  The size of the model is up to the student(s), but be sure it is not too small or too large; use your best judgment(s).  For example, your model should not be so large that it cannot fit through the classroom door, but it should not be so small that someone sitting in the back of the room during your presentation cannot see your work.  Also, the size of the model should vary depending upon group size (the more people the bigger and more in-depth the model should be).  Accompanying your model will be a two-page summary of the building or structure’s history and importance, each member of the group must write their own summary.        

The following is a list of suggested topics; you are not limited to this list:

• The Great Ziggurat at Ur
• Pyramid
• The Sphinx
• The Great Stupa
• The Great Wall
• The gates of Nineveh
• The Hanging Gardens of Babylon
• A portion of the ruins of Mohenjo-Daro

Grading Components:

30%- A two-page summary of the model and the overall significance of the structure

 40%- Accuracy of the building’s representation

20%- Overall creativity and artistic license

10%- Bibliography

Rubric for Models

Accuracy of the Building’s Representation (50%):

1-    The overall architecture of the model is inaccurate, or is lacking many of the important details integral to the original structure.

2-    The overall architecture of the model is slightly inaccurate, or is lacking several of the important details integral to the original structure.

3-    The overall architecture of the model is accurate and includes all of the important details and structures.

4-    The overall architecture of the model is accurate and includes all of the important details and structures, as well as some details that were part of the original building, but not essential to its understanding (i.e. the grounds around the structure).

5-    The overall architecture of the model is accurate and includes all of the important details and structures, as well as many details that were part of the original building, but not essential to its understanding (i.e. the grounds around the structure, and the grounds within the structure, shapes of columns).

Overall Creativity (20%):

1-    Student provides a very plain basic model.  Lacks colors or any great detail.

2-    Student provides a model which may have some detail (i.e. color), but these details are few and far between, and very general.

3-    Student provides a model with more detail, but these details are still small in number and general (i.e. color).

4-    Students provide a model with a large amount of detail (i.e. color, seating areas within the structure, statues within the structure, etc.).

5-    Students provide a model with a large amount of detail (i.e. color, seating areas within the structure, statues within the structure, people within the structure, grass or sand or water within the structure if applicable).

Two- Page Summary (20%):

1-    Paper approximately 1 page in length, or has no value in terms of content.

2-    Paper approximately 1½  pages in length, or has little value in terms of content.

3-    Paper satisfies the 2 page length requirement.  Paper summarizes the main points of the project, and applies them to the historical background of the subject matter.

4-    Paper slightly exceeds the 2 page length requirement.  Paper summarizes the main points of the project, but also analyzes some of the detail put into the project; applying both of these topics to the historical background of the subject matter.

5-    Paper well exceeds the 2 page length requirement.  Paper summarizes the main points of the project, but also analyzes all of the detail put into the project; both of these topics are then applied to the historical background of the subject matter.

4) Report- This project is designed for individuals, partners, or groups of up to four students. For this project, the student(s) will write a 5-8 page minimum report on a topic of his or her choice, as long as it comes from an area we have covered this quarter.  This report may be a biography, summarize an important event and discuss why it was so crucial, explain parts of the ancient civilization’s cultures, or be comparative between any number of aspects of civilizations that have been discussed.  These topics must be researched, and a bibliography (works cited) must be included.  This bibliography must have at least 6 sources: three VRC\DML  sources, and three internet sources. The internet sources must be from websites whose internet address ends in any of the following domains: “.edu”, “.org” and “.gov”.  Also, Wikipedia , Google,  and any other search engines are not acceptable sources.  Your bibliography is NOT included in your 5-8 page minimum length requirement; therefore the minimum length of a paper should be 5 full pages, plus the bibliography.
 

Grading:

70%- The report

10%- Bibliography

20%- Classroom presentation (3-5 min.)

*Rubric for the report will be a modified DBQ rubric. It is the same rubric, only using applicable grading criteria.