The Renaissance and Reformation
Agents of Change Project
Overview
Renaissance literally means “rebirth.” It was a cultural revolution that began in Italy in
the 1300s and lasted for the next 300 years, eventually spreading throughout Europe and
marking the transition from medieval times to the early modern world. It was a time of
great change – artistic, political, social, and economic.
The Protestant Reformation began in the 1500s in Northern Europe and brought
about great changes to Christianity, shattering Christian unity and diminishing the
secular power of the Roman Catholic Church.
A Scientific Revolution was taking place at the same time. Ignorance and superstition
so common in the Middle Ages were slowly replaced by reason. Mathematics and the
scientific method shaped new ways of thinking about the physical world and humanity’s
role within it.
The Agents of Change Project
Whether they were an artist, inventor, politician, philosopher, religious leader, or
scientist, an “Agent of Change” is someone who changed human history. Through your
own research and the inquiry of others, you will be learning (and teaching!) about
people who left a mark on your world. How did they do it???
You will be researching aspects of the Renaissance, Reformation, and Scientific
Revolution – both independently and in a group. You will be conducting research,
compiling notes, creating PowerPoint slides, and presenting your findings to the rest of
the class. Your primary responsibility will be to effectively relate accurate and detailed
research to the rest of the class.
You will be in one of eight groups:
1. Italian Renaissance: Artists, Architects
2. Italian Renaissance: Politicians, Historians, Philosophers
3. Renaissance in the North: Writers, Philosophers, Publishers
4. Renaissance in the North: Artists
5. Religious Reformation: Protestant Reformers
6. Religious Reformation: Catholic Reformers
7. Scientific Revolution: Astronomy, Gravity, Chemistry
8. Scientific Revolution: Scientific Method, Medicine, Anatomy
Responsibilities
Your group will be responsible for presenting general introductory and summative
information, providing a map, and giving a detailed and informative talk about people
who became agents of change during the Renaissance.
Individually, you will be responsible for conducting research, preparing slides on your
assigned agent of change, and fulfilling your responsibilities to your group. While it is
important that you maintain a productive group dynamic in order to get the most out of
this experience and to help everyone’s jobs run smoothly, ultimately each group member
will be graded independently on the strength of their own contribution.
Project Requirements
Research: 20 points
 A completed research plan (see attached)
 A minimum of four sources with Cornell Notes
o minimum of two FULL pages of notes total
 An MLA-style Bibliography (Works Cited/Consulted page)
PowerPoint Slides: 15 points
 Two slides to help you present your Agent of Change
 Your contribution to the overall group presentation (depends on your role in
your group and its requirements)
Presentation: 20 points
 Everyone in the group is expected to participate in the presentation.
 You should speak for at least 2 minutes about your Agent of Change.
 If you are responsible for one of the group slides, then you should speak for 1-2
minutes about your group slide.
 Research Notes are due on 12/9, along with a copy of your group’s completed
presentation slides and scripts, whether or not you are presenting that day.
Everyone shares the same due date.
 Presentations will be evaluated for accuracy of information, detail and creativity,
practice and preparation, and delivery.
Productive Use of Class Time: 5 points
 You will be given plenty of time to finish the majority of your work in class.
Please make good use of it and stay on task.
 Remain professional and productive when working in your group.
Due Dates


All research and slides are due by December 9th
Presentations will be given on December 9th, 10th, and 12th
The Renaissance and Reformation:
Getting Organized
Step #1: Organize your group
Each person in your group will be researching a historical figure who lived during the
Renaissance and is viewed by history as an Agent of Change. You will also have a role in
helping to organize and facilitate your group’s presentation.
Group Leader: ________________________________________
Responsible for helping everyone to stay informed and on track. Creates a title slide and
introduces the presentation (1-2 minutes).
Presentation Coordinator: ________________________________________
Responsible for sequencing and coordinating everyone’s slides. Makes sure the slides
are turned in on time. Takes charge of making sure that tech runs smoothly on the day
of the presentation, and keeps the slides moving along as needed.
Map Maker: ________________________________________
Creates and presents a “map slide” showing the general area most relevant to your topic,
with 1-2 important locations marked for each Agent of Change (1-2 minutes).
Summarizer(s): ________________________________________
Creates and presents a summary slide in which an overview of common threads
connecting all the Agents of Change in the presentation is given (1-2 minutes).
Step #2: Familiarize yourself with your overall topic
Read through your group’s chapter and familiarize yourself with the context in which
your Agents of Change were operating. What made this time period unique? Summarize
the main events/ideas in a paragraph below:
Step #3: Assign your Agents of Change
In the chart below, list the historical figures your group is to cover. Write a sentence
about each individual and what they are most famous for. Then agree AS A GROUP who
is going to be responsible for researching which person.
Agent of Change
Why are they Famous?
Group Member
Step #4: Unit Calendar and Due Dates
Tuesday
Nov. 18
Renaissance Intro
Project Overview
Assign Groups
Nov. 25
Ren: Cultural Diffusion
Group Check-In
Individual Research Time
Dec. 2
All-Class Time, ppt Sample
Group Check-In
Research/PowerPoint
Dec. 9
RESEARCH AND SLIDES
***DUE***
Groups Present
Dec. 16
Project Debrief/Reflection
Summarize the Time Period
Wednesday
Nov. 19
Wiki Day
Research Plan
Nov. 26
Group Check-In
Individual Research Time
Dec. 3
Presentation Practice
Dec. 10
Groups Present
Dec. 17
Introduce DBQ
(Document-Based
Question)
Friday
Nov. 21
Renaissance: Humanism
Group Check-In
Research Time - Books
Thanksgiving – No Class
Dec. 5
Rehearsal/Feedback
Group Check-In
Presentation Edits/Practice
Dec. 12
Groups Present
Dec. 19
Renaissance DBQ
The Renaissance and Reformation Research/Presentation Plan:
How do individuals become Agents of Change?
Step #1: Research your Agent of Change
When completing your research, keep your presentation in mind. Use these research
questions as your guide:
 Who is your person?
 Why is this person remembered as an Agent of Change?
 What did this person do?
 When and where did this person make a change?
 Why did this person make a change? (Think about their motivation.)
 How is the world different because of this person?
 What lesson can we learn from this person if we want to make a change in our world?
*Part 1 – Read the section in your textbook related to your Agent of Change. Take
notes regarding the time period in which your individual was living, along with any basic
information about your individual.
*Part 2 – Wiki Day: Look up your Agent of Change on Wikipedia. Skim the article. Add
a list of possible keywords, dates, and research ideas to your notes. Look at the bottom
of the article for links to possible sources for further research.
*Part 3 – Further Research: use at least one print source and three other sources
(books, magazines, encyclopedias, databases like SIRS, NJH eBooks like the Encyclopedia
of World Biography, websites, etc.) You should produce at least two full pages of notes.
Here is your checklist:
___ List out a variety of keywords that relate to your topic (wiki day should help!)
___ Find a book that answers at least one of your research questions
___ Check NJH online resources like SIRS, NJH eBooks (especially the Encyclopedia of
World Biography), etc.
___ Check the wider internet. If you find a good source online, you may print a copy
(print front and back!)
o If you use an internet website, first evaluate the website. Is it a valid
source? Who is the author/publisher? Include as much source
information as possible in your NoodleTools bibliography.
___ Read the information carefully!
___ Take notes (Cornell Style) on a separate page for each source you use
*Part 4 – Prepare your Bibliography: Update your NoodleTools bibliography
regularly, as you have your sources in front of you. Print when done and turn in with
your notes.
Step #2: Prepare your Presentation
Not everyone is a natural speaker, but careful preparation will help you to gain
confidence. It also helps your group as they prepare to include your work in the overall
presentation!
*Part 1 – Read through your notes and decide which information best helps you to:
 Answer your research questions (see Step #4)
 Best utilize a variety of sources from your research
 Guarantee accurate and detailed information
 Help you to create an interesting presentation
 Communicate what was special and unique about this person
*Part 2 – Organize your information into two Google Doc slides:
Your slides should show some effort and creativity, but do not “info-dump”: a few wellchosen bullet points will go farther than a block of text. Save the bulk of your
information for your script.
1. Factual: This is your who/what/when/where/why slide. What makes your
person interesting?
2. Analytical: This is where you discuss your person as an Agent of Change. How is
the world different because of this person? What lesson can we learn from this
person if we want to make a change in our world?
*Part 3 – Prepare your Script:
Below each of your slides, there is a section that says “Click to add notes.” In this section,
write out a script to go along with your slide. Your script does not have to be word-forword, bullet points are fine, and your presentation does not have to exactly match your
script, but you should have your text blocked out completely enough that you can
practice easily and so that I can review your presentation after you speak to the class.
Step 2: Group Coordination and Practice
At this time, you should be working on the slides needed for your group, and your
Presentation Coordinator should be arranging and sequencing your slides. Review the
task that you signed up for (Step #1) and make sure you’re living up to your
responsibilities. Practice, practice, and practice some more until everything is smooth!
Step 3: Presentations and Research are Due
By December 9th, you should be a pro! You will be turning in your presentations (Google
Doc) and research with bibliography (paper) to me at the beginning of class. We will
then start our presentations!