Year 9 Inquiry Assessment

The Impact of Ancient Societies on Peoples

Lives
You are to research how the ideas and actions of people in the past have had a significant
impact on peoples lives.
Select ONE of the topics below. You will use this topic to answer both of the focusing questions below:
philosophy
architecture (this might include stadiums, arches, domes)
roads
housing
infrastructure (e.g. water supply, baths, public toilets)
armies and warfare
government (democracy)
ceremonies
mathematics
check with your teacher if you have another idea

The main thing we want to know is.

Can you find good information on your topic?

You should not write your answers in your own words. You need to find information on the
internet or in books or newspapers or encyclopaedia which answer the questions shown.

This assignment is really a copy and paste assignment!

But there are a few challenges:
- Your research must follow the two focusing questions shown below. For each question,
find information, gather the best pieces of evidence and arrange them under the right
focusing question.
- You need to check your sources to make sure the answers you have found are correct
and reliable.
Remember:
A piece of evidence is some information you find which answers the focus question.
A source is the place where you found the information (like a book or an internet site) or
perhaps the person who said it or wrote it.

Your pieces of evidence should not be more than a page long.

For each question, try to find visual pieces of evidence (maps/photographs/drawings/graph, etc)
as well as written pieces.
It is okay to use the same source for different focus questions but a variety of sources is better.
You must have a minimum of 3 different sources. You should aim to gather 5 pieces of evidence
for each focus question.
In the source details column, show where your information came from. Use the following style for your source
details. E.g. for a book Washington, Booker T., (1901) Up From Slavery, New York: Doubleday
For an internet site it is necessary to include the date when you looked at the web page:

E.g.http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/COLDcubanmissile.htm. Retrieved 28th February 2013

Your name: Deep Parmar

Complete the following page and hand it in with the rest of your
assignment
Task Manager
Name of chosen topic: _______ Roman Roads________________
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4

Use class time in the library or on the internet to find information

Paste your information into the boxes provided so that you have
answered the focus question in a variety of ways.
Make sure you have provided the source details and answered the
third column for each of your pieces of evidence
Present your work clearly. Provide a title page to introduce your
research.

Where to find information (Make a list of the places and sources where you might
find useful information on your topic)
E.g.: Encyclopaedias in the library have brief information which can be trusted on a lot of
topics livebinder.com
Encyclopaedias in the library
BBC Documentaries on YouTube
Internet
Live binders website
Technology teachers

Key Facts about Chosen Topic

The Romans were famous for their roads. Some Roman roads exist to this day, nearly 2000
years after they were made. Roman roads were superbly made. Rome made a great deal of
money from trade in Europe. Some of this trade involved transport by sea. More frequently, the
Romans used roads. Also with so much of Western Europe conquered by the Romans, the
Romans needed roads to move their troops around quickly. Poorly built roads would not help
this. A good road system also made it easier for the emperors to control their empire as
messages and orders could be sent quickly. Roman roads were famed for being straight and
well made. However, the Romans usually built roads around a natural obstacle rather than go

through it. The authorities could also rely on the fact that the soldiers would do the best they
could for Rome by building excellent roads. Roman roads were well used throughout the
empire. However, many of those who used them had to walk - including merchants - as chariots
and horses were expensive. A wealthy merchant could afford a wagon pulled by horses. The
roads were built so that two of these wagons could pass on both sides of the roads.

Key words to use when searching for information on the internet or in the library:
Roman roads
Transport in early Rome
Roman road systems
Ancient Roman travel
Ancient Roman road construction
Ancient Roman road maps
Ancient Rome

Focus Question 1

Describe __Roman roads___ in ancient Greece/Rome. (Appearance/ characteristics/organisation

etc.)
#
1

Evidence

Source Details
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=XrPe3aOM678

Do you trust this source?

Why/why not?

Evidence

Source Details

Do you trust this source?

Why/why not?

In your own words, summarise the key points which describe the key features of your chosen topic. This is to show that
you understand most of what you have found.
- ____________________________________________________________________________________________
- ___________________________________________________________________________________________

- ___________________________________________________________________________________________
- ____________________________________________________________________________________________
- ___________________________________________________________________________________________
Is there anything you wanted to know the answer to which you couldnt find?
- ___________________________________________________________________________________________
Focus Question 2

How were/are people affected by Roman/Greek _ (use the same topic as for Focus Qn 1) _________________?
#
1

Evidence

Source Details

Do you trust this source?

Why/why not?

Evidence

Source Details

Do you trust this source?

Why/why not?

In your own words, summarise the key points which show how peoples lives were affected by your chosen topic. This is
to show that you understand most of what you have found.
- ____________________________________________________________________________________________
- ___________________________________________________________________________________________
- ___________________________________________________________________________________________
- ____________________________________________________________________________________________

- ___________________________________________________________________________________________
Is there anything you wanted to know the answer to which you couldnt find?
- ___________________________________________________________________________________________

Assessment Rubric
Y
Planning

Selecting
and
Organising
information

Limited planning

One source used

One or two pieces of relevant
evidence
One focus question
answered

AL

Sources have not been

referenced

Understanding and
Evaluation

Limited understanding shown

Presentation

Unclear

At least two sources of

information listed

At least three sources of

information listed

At least four sources of

information listed

Some key facts and key

words have been listed
At least 2 good sources used

Some key facts and key

words have been listed
At least 3 different sources
used

Some key facts and key

words have been listed
At least 4 different sources of
information used

Some key facts and key

words have been listed
At least 5 different sources of
information used

Four pieces of relevant

evidence and at least two for
each focus question

Six pieces of relevant

evidence and at least three
for each focus Q

Eight pieces of relevant

evidence and at least four for
each focus question

At least one visual is

included.

At least one visual is

included for each focus
question.

At least one visual is

included for each focus
question.

Some pieces of evidence

show depth.

Most pieces of evidence

show depth and all evidence
is relevant to its
corresponding FQ.
Own sources are referenced
and correct details and
format used.

Three pieces of relevant

evidence and at least one for
each focus question
At least one visual is
included.

No visuals are included

Recording
source
details

AH

At least two sources of

information listed

Some sources have been

referenced although correct
format may not have been
used
Shows understanding of
content

Most sources have been

referenced although correct
format may not have been
used
Shows understanding of
content

Sources are referenced and

correct details and format
used for most

Some clarity

Mostly Clear

Clear

Shows understanding of
content and judgments about
reliability of evidence

Shows understanding of
content and convincing
judgments about reliability of
evidence
Clear and effective (impact?)

Comments: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Overall Grade

AL

AH

Resubmit?

Y/N