Social
Problems of Peasants during Medieval Times
Ms.
Kinney- 9th Grade Humanities
Marble
Hill School for International Studies
INTRODUCTION
During the Middle Ages, under the system of feudalism,
peasants faced many social problems. The feudal system was a system which
organized society based on the allocation of land for services. The King gave
fiefs of land to lords who promised to provide soldiers to the King in times of
war. At the bottom of this social hierarchy were the peasants. They were farmers
who provided food for everyone else. They, their land, and their possessions
truly belonged to a Lord to which they were bound. Life on a lord’s manor was
hard. Peasants worked their lord’s land in exchange for protection and their
own piece of land to grow food for their families. Sickness and disease were
common.
You have been transported back in time to the early
middle ages. To address some of their problems the peasants have organized a
group to research and recommend changes in policy that will contribute to
better lifestyles for peasants. As a
strong leader of the peasant community you have been selected to represent the
peasants.
YOUR TASK
Individually,
you will research social problems which
medieval peasants faced. You may use the Internet and library resources. You
will then use the 6-step
public policy approach to examine and propose policy aimed at ONE social
problem of peasants. You are responsible for writing
a 400- word position paper that advocates for a policy that could
improve the welfare of peasants during medieval times. After your research and
paper are complete, you will create a power point
presentation to present your proposed policy to a board of lords.
Using Our Multiple Intelligences
In
addition, you will choose one of the following tasks to complete:
1)
Create
a campaign poster for a delegate who would advocate for peasants.
2)
Create
a political cartoon that describes, shows evidence and causes of a social
problem medieval peasants faced.
3)
Write
a dialogue/ script that depicts the social problems peasants faced. Act it out
or use the classroom puppets.
4)
Write
a 2-minute monologue that talks about life from a peasant’s perspective.
5)
Write
a poem or song lyrics with a theme that reflects your findings about peasant
lifestyle.
Public Policy
Approach
You
will need to use the 6-step
public policy approach and complete the worksheets for each step in blue,
on your own. You should do the following
in your paper:
q Describe and
identify the social problems of medieval peasants. Choose one or two to
focus on.
q
Gather the evidence of the
problem by
using class textbooks, notes and the Internet resources below.
q
Determine causes of the problem by using class textbooks,
notes and the Internet resources below.
q
Evaluate the policy.
Look at one policy that contributed to the social problem you have focused on.
q Develop solutions. Propose an alternative policy.
q Select best policy.
Using your analysis, develop a position paper to advocate for the one you think
is best.
PRODUCT GUIDELINES
POSITION PAPER GUIDELINES
a)
Include a cover page with your name, a title for the paper, your class,
teacher’s name and date submitted and an image related to your paper.
b)
Your
400-word paper should include an introduction. Your paper should describe:
·
a social
problem that you have researched
·
the
policies which were in place regarding your social problem,
·
your
proposed policy and it’s benefits.
c)
Include a bibliography with at least 3 on-line sources where you obtained your
research information.
POWER POINT
GUIDELINES
a) You are responsible for creating 6 slides.
b) Your first slide should be a title slide and
include your name, class, teacher, and date.
c) At least one slide should describe the problem.
d) At least one slide should describe policies in
place to address the social problem.
e) At least one slide should describe your proposed
best solution and benefits.
f) You should include at least 3 graphics in your
presentation.
MULTIPLE
INTELLIGENCE GUIDELINES
- All submission must illustrate evidence and
causes of a social problem.
- All submissions must be neatly submitted.
- No pencil.
- Use color for visual pieces.
- Neatly write or type written documents.
- Check for errors in spelling, grammar and punctuation.
PROCESS
1- Use the Internet to do research using the Global History Policy
analysis model of the TIPS program. Use the sources listed below in order to
gather information for your three-page paper.
2- Complete the 6-step public policy analysis work sheets (see the above links under TASK) and plan your paper.
3- Organize your notes from
the resources into a logical and coherent format and write
an outline and then a first draft of
your position paper.
4- Submit your paper for edits and rewrite your paper.
5- Submit your report.
6- Use your report to plan your power point slides on the worksheet
provided.
7- Create your power point
slides, find graphics to support your
presentation and edit your work.
8- Present.
RESEARCH SOURCES
EVALUATION
Your report will be graded using the following rubric:
|
|
Excellent/5 |
Good/4 |
Fair/3 |
Poor/2 |
Total |
|
Written 3-page report |
In-depth and insightful
analysis of the topic and use of the PPA format - Clear and full
development of ideas -Shows sophisticated
control of conventions |
Thorough analysis of topic
and use of PPA format - Clear development of
ideas - Control of conventions
with occasional errors in sophisticated language |
Basic understanding of
topic and use of PPA format - Develops some ideas
briefly -Shows minimal control of
conventions that sometimes affect comprehension |
Confused understanding of
topic and little or no use of PPA format.
Incomplete development of ideas and lack of control of conventions
numerous errors that often affect comprehension |
|
|
Web Site Research |
A variety of sites (3 or
more) used from resource list and student researching that fully support the
topic |
Sufficient number of sites
that support the topic. Most are
directly from resource list |
Adequate number of sites
but few support the topic |
1-2 sites used and do not
sufficiently relate to topic |
|
|
Multiple Intelligences |
-Illustrates
strong evidence and causes of a social problem that is clear, creative and in
depth. -Demonstrates high level of professional appearance |
-Illustrates
supportive evidence and causes of a social problem that is clear, creative. Demonstrates aspects of professional appearance |
-Illustrates
some evidence and causes of a social problem that is clear, -Little demonstration of professional appearance |
-Little
or no or unclear evidence and causes of a social problem -Unprofessional presentation |
|
|
Power Point Presentation |
- Clear and full
presentation of material (6 slides) - Shows sophisticated
control of elements of power point program - Demonstrates full
control of language conventions |
- Clear presentation of
material (6 slides) - Shows control of
elements of power point program - Demonstrates control of
language conventions with very few mistakes |
- Basic presentation of
material (less than 4,5 slides) - Basic control of elements
of power point program - Some errors in language
conventions get in way of presentation |
- Insufficient and/or
unclear presentation of material - Little control of power
point program - Significant errors in
language conventions which get in way of presentation |
|
www.medieval-life.co.uk/ issue11.htm
STANDARDS
Students completing this project will meet
the following New York State Standards:
Social
Studies Standard 2
Students will use a variety of intellectual
skills to demonstrate their understanding of major ideas, eras, themes,
developments, and turning points in world history and examine the broad sweep
of history from a variety of perspectives.
Key Idea 1: The study of world history
requires an understanding of world cultures and civilizations, including an
analysis of important ideas, social and cultural values, beliefs, and
traditions. This study also examines the human condition and the connections
and interactions of people across time and space and the ways different people
view the same event or issue from a variety of perspectives.
Key Idea 3: Study of the major social,
political, cultural, and religious developments in world history involve
learning about the important roles and contributions of individuals and groups.
English Language
Arts Standard 1
Students will read, write, listen, and speak
for information and understanding.
Key Idea: Listening & Reading to acquire information and
understanding involves collecting data, facts, and ideas; discovering
relationships, concepts, and generalizations; and using knowledge from oral,
written, and electronic sources.