St. Anne Secondary School
Ancient Civilization – Independent Study Unit
This independent study unit is defined as the research process leading up to a final
product. The purpose of the ISU is to focus on the development of students as
independent learners. Through a structured process, students develop and refine
systematic research and organizational skills that are cross-curricular and essential
for successful post secondary studies.
The I.S.U. will be completed in two parts:
- Research Process (Summative) 2%
- Final Product (Summative) 8%
Components:
The ISU includes the following stages, each of which must be complete for the
student to acquire sound, methodical research skills.
-
selecting a topic
conducting preliminary reading
preparing a Works Cited page
researching and recording information
Minimum Pages: 8-10 (written material)
MLA Format
How to Begin?
Selecting a topic is a crucial step if you are to be successful. Often the lack of
success in the ISU can be traced to inadequate planning around the topic
chosen. Opportunities will be made for you to meet with the instructor, and
others, before submitting your proposal. The following parameters will assist
you in developing an appropriate inquiry.
Parameters:
- Inquiry topic must deal with an issue related to European History in one of the units
studied within the course and/or contained within the text.
- List several possible areas where you believe information could be found.
- Examine the quantity and quality of secondary and primary resources.
- your research topic must develop and defend a historic point of view.
(THESIS STATEMENT)
Plan of Attack:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Review Parameters
Brainstorm ideas with peers
Brainstorm ideas with parents/teachers/librarian
List several possible areas where you believe information could be found
Examine the quantity and quality of Primary Sources
6. Develop a point of view that will be defended (Thesis statement)
-
outline the major points that you believe will prove thesis
Note the ability to support the thesis with primary sources
Important Dates to Remember:
1. First Submission:
_____________
(10)
_____________
(15)
Thesis Statement
2. Second Submission
Major points that will prove thesis to be submitted – paper should have
structure and organization.
-
Be prepared to defend and discuss your points submitted
Problem areas will be solved – keep you on topic. Will you prove you’re
thesis?
3. Third Submission
_____________
(25)
Point form outline of your entire paper – Thesis statement – points that prove
thesis – conclusion.
4. Final Due Date: _______________
Requirements:
- All material submitted will be typed in proper essay form with a formal title page and
appropriate title.
i.
ii.
iii.
1” margins, Formal Title page, title reflecting your topic
Proper size font – Times New Roman 12pt font
Daily Record Log
All time spent researching information gathered for this ISU is to be kept in the
research folder. All rough drafts are to be submitted on the final due date.
Topics:
The following are only suggested items that students might be interested in
considering for potential essay topics. Students are welcome to create their own
topic if one cannot be found on this list, however, they must have the instructor’s
approval before beginning their work.
Mesopotamia
Rulers:
1.
Gilgamesh
3.
Hammurabi – law-giver
2.
Hammurabi – ruler
4.
Nebuchadnezzar
Middle Eastern Cultural Groups:
5.
Amorites
7.
Hittites
6.
Kassites
8.
Hyksos – rulers of Egypt
Achievements:
9.
Sumerians
10. Babylonians
11. Assyrians
Egypt
People:
12. Hatshepsut
18. Ahmose and Khamose - Expulsion of the
Hyksos
13. Thutmose III
19. Alexander of Macedonia – (effect on Egypt)
14. Amenhotep IV (Amarna Revolution)
20. Octavian and Mark Antony
15. King Tut’s treasure
21. Ramses II
16. Ptolemy I – General to god
22. Howard Carter
17. Cleopatra VII – Political Ambition
23. Jean-Francois Champollion
Society, Politics, Religion:
24. Evolution of Burial Practices
25. Pharaoh as god
26. Women’s lives
27. Pyramid vs. Ziggurat (purpose, method, materials)
Greece
People:
28. Thucydids
39. Pisistratus
34. Aristotle
29. Pericles
40. Cleisthenes
35. Aeschylus
30. Herodotus
41. Cyrus the Great
36. Solon
42. Alexander The Great –
campaigns and the
spread of Hellenism
31. Euripides
37. Draco
32. Socrates
38. Philip II of Macedonia
33. Plato
Politics, Economics, Society:
43. Development of the Palace of Knossos
50. Life in Sparta
44. Greek colonization
51. Life in Athens
45. Age of Tyrants
52. The Olympics
46. Persian Wars
53. Greek Sculpture and Art
47. Peloponnesian Wars
54. Minoan civilization
48. Development of mathematics
55. The Mycenaean’s
49. Greek military technology and tactics
Rome
People:
70. Emperor Diocletian –
Persecution and
Separation
56. The Gracchus
Brothers (Tiberius and
Gaius)
62. Caesar Augustus
57. Scipio Africanus
64. Emperor Claudius
58. Hannibal
65. Emperor Nero
71. Jesus the Rebel
(Threat to Rome’s
Power)
59. The First Triumvirate –
rulers of Rome
66. Emperor Caligula
72. Lucius Cornelius Sulla
67. The Five Good
Emperors
73. Boudica – Queen of
the Iceni
68. Cicero
74. Vercingetorix
69. Virgil
75. Constantine
60. The Second
Triumvirate – rulers of
Rome
61. Julius Caesar
63. Emperor Tiberius
Encounters with Others:
76. Etruscan Rule – What Romans learned.
80. Vandals
77. The Goths (Ostrogoths and Visigoths)
81. The Huns
78. The Battle for Britain
82. Mesada and the Jewish Revolt
79. Punic Wars
83. The Celts
Society, Religion, Technology and Economics:
84. A Gladiator’s Life
85. Festivals and Holidays
86. Technological advances
87. The Fall of the Empire
88. Christian Persecution
89. The “Profession” of Warfare (Legion and Tactics)
90. The Power of the Praetorian Guard
91. The Effect of Christianity on the Empire
92. Significance of slavery for Roman growth
93. The Nature and Purpose of Public Entertainment
94. All Roads Lead to Rome – Roman Technical/Technological Achievements
The Byzantine Empire:
95. Justinian and Theodora: The Golden Age of Byzantium
96. Byzantine economic strength in the face of the fall of the Empire and beyond.
97. The weakening of the Empire.
98. The Fall of the Roman and Byzantine Empires
99. Freedom and opportunity for women – compare Byzantium and Medieval Europe
100. The role of Icons and Mosaics in religion and art of Byzantium
Islam:
101. The expansion of the Islamic border at the expense of Christianity
102. Social structure and use of slaves in Muslim civilization, Greece, and Rome
103. Muslims as international traders
104. Achievements of the Muslim civilization transferred to Medieval Europe
China:
105. The Shang Dynasty
108. The Han Dynasty
111. The Song Dynasty
106. The Zhou Dynasty
109. The Sui Dynasty
112. The Mongol Hordes
107. The Qin Dynasty
110. The Tang Dynasty
113. The Ming Dynasty
114. The Silk Road and it’s significance on the development of China
115. Chinese technological advances
116. Military thought and its contribution to the development of Chinese civilization
117. The results of Chinese isolationism after the period of exploration
Japan:
118. Compare culture of the Yayoi period to that of the Jomon period
119. China’s influence on Japanese culture, ideas, and institutions. (Kofun and Nara Periods)
120. The Heian Period of ancient Japan: Golden Age
121. The role of the Shogun
122. The Samurai and Bushido: Their role in ancient Japan
123. Development of Japanese Law in ancient Japan
The Maya/Aztec/:
124. The Classical Period: Golden Age
125. Decline of the Maya
126. Hernando Cortez
127. Mayan Government: Centralization and Justice
128. Mayan Achievements: Architecture, Math, Astronomy
129. Aztec dependence and adaptability to the environment
130. The Aztec: Empire Builders
The Inca:
131. Comparison – Which ruler made the greatest contribution to the Empire: Viracocha, Pachacuti, Huayana
Capac
132. Atahuallpa and Pizarro: The end of the Inca
133. Compare the fall of the Maya under Cortez to that of the Inca under Pizarro
Russia:
134. Cultural Hodge Podge
135. The growth of Moscow and freedom from Tatar domination (including Grand Prince Dmitiri and Ivan III)
136. Orthodox Christianity: The Rus and Tsar Ivan III (Holy Russian Empire)
Medieval Europe:
People:
137. Charles the Great (Charlemagne)
141. Thomas Aquinas: Theologian
138. William of Normandy vs. The AngloSaxons
142. Henry I of England
139. Eric the Red and Leif Erikson (Erik’s Son)
143. King John (1199-1216) of England and the
Magna Carta
140. Joan of Arc
144. Otto I of Germany
Society, Religion, Military
145. The Black Death
146. The Viking threat: Why and How?
147. Cathedrals as holy architecture and devotion
148. Feudalism – Social structure, obligations, and rights
149. Medieval “Codes”: Code of Chivalry, Church Teaching, and the Honour Code.
Agreement?
150. The Crusades
151. Castle defenses, fortress warfare, military units and tactics.
152. The fall of Medieval Europe and the feudalist system
153. The Hundred Years War
154. War of the Roses
155. The power of the Pope and the Catholic Church
156. The Jesuits
157. The development of the Estates-General in France. Good or Bad?
158. Rule of St. Benedict
159. Development of monasteries in Europe
160. The Franciscans
161. The Dominicans
162. The Knights Templar
163. Serfdom and the dangers inherent in this system
164. The Tournaments: Entertainment and Honour
165. The Development of the Medieval Guilds
Cross-Cultural:
166. Death and the afterlife rituals for Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Greece
167. The effect of trade on Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome, Phoenicia
168. The Importance of natural geography in determining the success of civilizations.
Opposition or
Essay Submission Outline:
1st Submission:
Thesis:
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
2nd Submission:
Argument #1 – (strong argument)
Topic Sentence - ____________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Supporting Points:
1 - _______________________________________________________________________________
2 - _______________________________________________________________________________
3 - _______________________________________________________________________________
Argument #2 – (weaker argument)
Topic Sentence - ____________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Supporting Points:
1 - _______________________________________________________________________________
2 - _______________________________________________________________________________
3 - _______________________________________________________________________________
Argument #3 – (strongest argument)
Topic Sentence - ____________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Supporting Points:
1 - _______________________________________________________________________________
2 - _______________________________________________________________________________
3 - _______________________________________________________________________________
ISU - WORK LOG
DATE
TIME
STARTED
Total Time Spent on ISU:
TIME
ENDED
DESCRIPTION OF THE WORK
Research Component
Mark Scheme
The research/process phase of the ISU will be counted in the Thinking/Inquiry portion
of the evaluation. The final essay will be a combination of all four evaluation
categories. The process marks are divided as follows:
Evaluation:
Accuracy of record/log: Time spent on paper
/5
Quality of information gathered
/5
All material is present
/5
ISU Topic Selection
/10
ISU Second Submission
/15
ISU Third Submission
/25
In Class Writing
/30
Evidence of effort present
/5
TOTAL
/100
Independent Study Unit Marking Scheme
Essay Written By: _________________________
K/U
/30
T/I
/25
Comm.
/20 App.
/25
Knowledge:
Content of Main body:
- Research – information presented has variety, depth, relevance to thesis, and reflects the use of
primary sources. (20)
- Viewpoints are clearly outlined and biases avoided. (5)
- Organization of ideas – facts are organized logically and coherently in a unified manner suitable to
the purpose of the essay. (5)
Thinking/Inquiry:
Content of Main body:
- Analysis – use of convincing arguments, reflecting an accurate and perceptive interpretation of
research and sustained use of relevant and supporting evidence. (15)
Introduction: (5)
- Identifies topic and position.
- Arguments and evidence are presented
Conclusion: (5)
- Major points summarized.
- Brings arguments to logical end
Communication:
Introduction: (5)
- ½ page – ¾ page in length - appropriate to the length of the essay.
- Effective in getting the readers attention
- Thesis statement clearly expressed in one or two sentences and is the central focus of the paper.
Shows originality of thought and interpretation of evidence.
Conclusion: (5)
- Thesis restated.
- Reflective closing statements providing a sense of closure that effectively links the thesis with a
lesson for humanity.
Style: (10)
- Good sentence structure throughout paper – correct use of spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
Avoidance of sentence fragments and run-on phrases.
- Paragraph structure – topic sentence, body of ideas and evidence, closing-linking sentence.
- Appropriate vocabulary and tone projecting the skill of the writer, precise, and imaginative.
- Academic formalities followed – set up, no contractions, no personal pronouns, etc…
Application:
Essay Format: (5)
- Title page – appropriate title reflecting thesis (not just topic or “ISU”). Well spaced. Neat.
- Page numbers – none on first page or title page, essay pages are numbered appropriately
- Margins – Left, Right, Top, Bottom – 1 inch
- No extra spaces between paragraphs
- Easily legible, correctly assembled, double spaced, font size 12pt T.N.Roman.
Impression:
- Depth of study and reasoning relating to thesis and relayed by the author to the thesis. (5)
Paragraph Structure: (5)
clear expression of points followed by presentation of research, concluding with suitable analysis.
Works Cited: (10)
- Formatted correctly.
- Acknowledges sources of ideas, statistics, and precise information and quotations throughout the
paper and in the Works Cited page.
- Indicates a wide variety of appropriate sources.
- Correct use of quotes (direct and indirect).