Assessment Tools

Shows that you understand and can analyze a piece of literature,

historical document or text.

CONTEXT OR PURPOSE:
Your purpose is clear. You do not just retell the author's ideas. You really think about what the author said and put it clearly within an historical context.

• You get into the author's time and mind to understand his/her point of view.
• You use quotes and concrete details from the piece to explain the author's point of view.
• You analyze various parts AND the main idea of the piece as a whole.
• You give your own interpretation of something that affected you personally, keeping in mind the historical context.

ORGANIZATION:
The manner and the order in which you present your ideas make it easy for people to understand your thoughts. You clearly tie your ideas to the social studies concepts in the piece.

• Your opening is clear and makes people want to read more.
• The order of your work and your transitions make it easy for people to understand your thinking. (Creative patterns are fine as long as they are understandable!)
• You use different types of sentences (some short and simple, others longer
• and more complex).
• Your conclusion is based on the information in your piece of writing and the important social studies concept(s).

ELABORATION/CREATIVITY:
Your writing shows the creative use of words and sentences. You have used appropriate details and images to support your point of view.

• The language you use helps to "paint a picture" for the reader.
• You use specific social studies language appropriate for the topic.
• You use various strategies to get across your point, e.g contrasts, similes
• and metaphors, review the history, or create historically accurate scenarios.
• Your ideas show deep thinking about the piece and (perhaps) new ways
• of looking at people, cultures or societies.

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