Tech Thru the Ages

Technology Through the Ages
(State CBA)

Big Picture:
The student will research a technological change and its costs and benefits. The research sources will be explained in an annotated bibliography, the research will be developed into a Position Paper (essay) and a Slide Show (PowerPoint) Presentation.

This assignment is the state's Classroom Based Assessment of your ability to think, research and write in way that shows you meet the state's standards. There is no WASL for History; this is it!

There are 4 specific steps you MUST COMPLETE and HAVE SIGNED OFF by the teacher as you work through this assignment. Do the steps in order and don't skip right to the final paper or you will probably have to start over. Please ask questions as they come up!

Step 1: Getting Started (about 1 day)

Step 2: Developing your Thesis and support through Research (about 3 days)

Step 3: Draft (about 1 day)

Step 4: Final Draft of Paper and Creation of SlideShow (about 2 days)

Directions to the Students:

You will develop a position and write an evaluation of a technological change by: 1) examining why this change was significant; 2) evaluating the consequences of this change, including costs and/or benefits; and 3) explaining how this change required investment of human capital. (i.e. time and effort expended).

Step 1: Getting Started (4 parts + sign off)

WHAT? Student will demonstrate an understanding of the concepts: costs and benefits.

HOW? Student will create a T-chart for the idea of attending Night School. In one column list the costs and in the other list the benefits. Be prepared to discuss this with your teacher. (typed or hand-written OK)

WHAT? Select a topic - a technological development.

HOW? Choose from the list below or propose a topic to your teacher. Your topic will be typed in bold at the top your Step 1 page...

Wheel	Sail	Plow	Bronze Tools
Bronze Weapons	Ancient Irrigation Techniques	Arches	Columns
Ramps	Devices to build a Pyramid	Mumification	Egyptian Surgery/Dentistry
Chariot	Plumbing	Olympics	Greek Architecture (tools, techniques)
Greek Sculpture (tools, techniques)	Astronomy	Archimedes (Lever, Pulley, Screws)	Aquaducts/Arch
Colloseum	Roman Weapons	Roman Roads	The Dome
Castles	Middle Age Weapons	Cathedrals/Stained Glass	Agriculture (3-field system)
Longbow	Basilica	Statue of David	Printing Press
Da Vinci	Sistine Chapel	Use of steel	Blacksmith skills/tools

WHAT? Begin your research and begin to answer the Common Questions. Use the suggested resources below to begin your research. Locate at least 2 sources you can use to answer the Common Questions (also below).

HOW? On your page you must 1) type your topic in bold font and center it at the top 2) answer the Common Questions in one paragraph each and 3) have at least 2 resources sited in correct MLA format.

Common Questions:

1. How was the development of your topic significant?

2. What were the costs and benefits of this technological development?

Suggested Resources:

U.S. Federal government: www.firstgov.gov
U.S. National Archives and Records Administration: http://www.archives.gov/
U.S. Census Bureau: http://www.census.gov/
Facts for you: http://www.firstgov.gov/Citizen/Facts/FactsScience.shtml
Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports are very helpful and address a wide range of topics. Start at http://www.llrx.com/features/crsreports.htm #crs
U.S Patent and Trademark Office: http://www.uspto.gov/index.html
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA): www.nasa.gov
Library of Congress: http://www.loc.gov/
American Memory Project: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amhome.html
Smithsonian Institution: http://www.si.edu/resource/faq/nmah/start.htm,http://americanhistory.si.edu/
First Gov for Kids: http://www.kids.gov/k history.htm
Teaching with Historic Places: http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp

End of Step 1 - Take your T-chart and typed page to Mrs. Johnson for sign off before you continue.

Step 2: Developing your Thesis and support through Research (4 parts + sign off)

WHAT? Student will understand the difference between and importance of primary sources and secondary sources.

HOW? Learn the meaning of primary source and secondary source. Write your own definition for each and name 2 examples of each. Finally, pretend you were writing a book on an American president...what types of things would you use for primary sources and secondary sources? Name at least 5 of each that might be available and useful to a researcher.

WHAT? Student will develop a thesis statement that helps answer the "So What?" question about your topic and your findings.

HOW? Consider what you know about the significance of your topic and the evidence you have researched so far..craft a statement that tells your audience why your topic matters or how it matters, even today. Type this statement out as the first part of Step 2 (you'll be typing more later).

WHAT? Continue your research and organize your notes into a graphic organizer.

HOW? Consider using this example...(you can copy/paste into Word, make your own table, or hand write something similar).

WHAT? Create an annotated bibliography of at least 3 sources, including at least 1 primary source.

HOW? Click here to see and print an example...notice the MLA format and the info included in each paragraph. You are basically making an argument for WHY that is a good source for you to use in your paper.

End of Step 2 - Take your graphic organizer and typed page to Mrs. Johnson for sign off before you continue.

Step 3: Draft (3 parts + sign off)

WHAT? Type out your first draft. Be sure to use your thesis statement and evidence you found in researching to support your point. Create a Works Cited page in MLA format for your sources (at least 4 total, 2 primary source).

HOW? Follow these guidelines and refer to the scoring rubric.

Typed, double-spaced in 12 point font (Times or Arial)
No larger than one-inch margins.
MLA format with Title Page, Works Cited and page numbers.
No less than three full pages of text.

End of Step 3 - Take your Title Page, Paper and Works Cited to Mrs. Johnson for sign off before you continue.

Step 4: Final Draft of Paper and Creation of SlideShow

WHAT? Take feedback from your teacher and a second look at the rubric (above) to revise your paper and get a final copy.

HOW? Just do it and turn it into the box.

WHAT? Create a slide show (using PowerPoint) to showcase the highlights of your topic. At a minimum it should include:

title page
images of topic
thesis statement
3 main points (at least)
conclusion statement
works cited

HOW? Write your teacher a quick note telling them how to get to your folder and what this PP is named so they can view your work! Turn the note into the "in" box.

!YOU ARE NOW DONE with the World History CBA!