RESEARCH
GUIDE
For
INCA & AZTEC
NAME:_________________
DATE:____________
PERIOD:_____
DBQ ANALYSIS:
How were the Inca and Aztec
civilizations both similar and different?
1
DBQ Analysis: A COMPARATIVE STUDY: How were the Inca and
Aztec civilizations both similar and different?
GOAL:
The goal of your research is a COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS of the Inca
and Aztec civilizations - focused around the central thesis question: How were the
civilizations of the Inca and Aztec similar and different?
DBQ ESSAY:
You will be writing a document based essay that supports the
Thesis (i.e., Similarities & differences between the Inca and Aztec civilizations)
(more about the essay to come)
STEPS in the RESEARCH PROCESS
1. You are REQUIRED to research the Agriculture of the Incas and Aztecs.
2. You will also need to choose 2 additional Topics from the list that follows
in which to focus your research:
These topics will be the basis for your comparative essay . Remember, the Topic
of Agriculture is a required topic – so you will have 3 areas in all to research
♦ Agriculture (this topic is required)
Choose two additional topics to research from the list
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
Religious beliefs
War/Warfare
Technological achievements
Daily Life/ Customs
Art/Architecture
Education
3. Once you have your topics selected - you will start your research.
4. You will need to find 2 sources ( secondary sources or primary sources) for each of
the three topics, and you must use at least ONE primary source document for any of
the 3 topics. REMEMBER – you are looking for similarities & differences between
the Incas and Aztecs – so the sources you select should reveal similarities and/or
differences. A few Primary Sources are attached at the end of this Guide
-2Selecting Sources that support your Thesis
1. Skim / Read through the information FIRST – without copying anything. This way
you’ll be able to judge whether or not the information is useful and understandable to
you. You’ll also be starting to understand your topic better. You’ll be able to narrow
the exact sources you think are the best for helping you with your investigation, and
NOT use sources which aren’t helpful or that you don’t understand !
NOTETAKING
NOTETAKING: Taking NOTES is an important step in researching (investigating a
topic). It begins with you (the investigator) trying to find sources that support the Thesis of
your research (i.e., Similarities and Differences between the Inca & Aztec). Secondary
sources could come from - books, pamphlets, magazines, and web-site articles. Secondary
sources can also be information you acquire from videos, discussions with your teachers
and parents, or from guest speakers. Remember, secondary sources differ from primary
sources, because they represent information put together after the time of the actual event
or time period.
1.
After you have selected at least 2 sources for each of the 3 topics – of your research REREAD the information from your sources and begin to jot down facts & details (or
quotes) that support your thesis. (similarities / differences between the Inca and Aztec).
This is the NOTETAKING part of your research.
2. NOTES – are NOT copies of pages from books and magazines or
web-site printouts . NOTES are your thoughts and ideas about
the information you’ve read. NOTES can be in outline format or
in “bullet” format. Again, your teacher will NOT accept as
NOTES – copies of pages with highlighted information. A
Lay-out of how your NOTES must be set up is on the
next page of this guide. (Also, A sample outline is provided at
the end of the guide)
3. CITING SOURCES - Once you have selected either a Primary or Secondary source
that you will be citing in your essay - (Remember to record the Title of the source). In
your essay – you will need to cite sources, so don’t forget to record the title – since in
most cases this is what your Document will be called…
Sources such as textbook chapters have titles which you can use.
EXAMPLES:
(Doc. “The Aztecs”)
( Doc. “The Incas” )
Website articles almost always have titles that you could use
Example ~ (Doc. “Aztec Life”)
NOTE: You may NOT use video notes as sources, but the background information
you obtained from the videos seen in class will be helpful in writing your essay
♦ If you’re stuck as to what to call your Document – ask your teacher for help
-3REQUIRED RESEARCH ITEMS
 DBQ ESSAY
You will be required to write a 5 paragraph essay about your
group. The essay will be structured and you will be required to follow the
GUIDELINES of a writing prompt & rubric (to be forthcoming) 20 points (Due
Date_______)
 NOTES (Due with essay ________) 15 points
______________________________________________________
WEBSITES: A complete list of suggested WEBSITES for this
project can be found at
http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/schools/westlandms/media/ia07.htm or
you can go to the “Westland Home Page/Media Center/Projects
06-07/Inca & Aztec Study”
The following documents will be helpful in conducting your
Research. These documents will be available as individual handouts
from your teacher…
A. Notetaking Guide Document (page 4 & 5) of this guide
B. A list of all the subscription services with the usernames and
passwords that are needed to get into the services at school and at
home. ( can be found on the Westland website (Media section)
(passwords for the on-line resources are in Edline (under
“News”)
-4NOTETAKING GUIDE
You will need 4 pages of Notes to help you in writing your essay
Your NOTES should be set up as follows…
Page 1: Background information about
A. Origins (where they built their empires)
B. Approximate time periods of empires
C. The 3 topics about which your research will be focused
Page 2: Notes about the similarities & differences between Inca and
Aztec agriculture
Page 3: Your Choice: Notes about the similarities & differences
between the Inca and Aztec
Page 4: Your Choice: Notes about the similarities & differences
between the Inca and Aztec
NOTE SHEET 1
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
NOTES - Background information on both the Incas and Aztecs – focused
on
A. the origin of the groups (location of their empires)
B. the time periods of their existence.
C. Also – state the 3 topics about which your research will be focused
(remember – Agriculture is a required topic)
This will provide information for your first paragraph
No Sources need to be cited
-5-
NOTE SHEET 2
Similarities
TOPIC of Your Choice
Differences
NOTES…
NOTES………………..
Source 1___________________
Source 2___________________
NOTE SHEET 3
TOPIC of Your Choice
Similarities
Differences
NOTES…….
NOTES
Source 1_______________
Source 2 _______________
NOTE SHEET 4 – same as Note sheets 2 and 3 above