Year 8 History

The Black Death

Essay Question
The Black Death was a devastating plague that broke out in Europe during
the mid to late fourteenth century, caused a devastating loss of life and had
profound consequences on most of Western Europe.
QUESTION
Your task is to write an historical essay about the causes, spread and consequences of the
Black Death by using the following outline:

Where did the Black Death begin?

What causes contributed to the spread of the Black Death to affect most of Europe
by the mid-late 14th century?
What were the symptoms of the Black Death?
What were the short term and long term consequences of the Black Death?

In addition to writing this as an historical essay, you also need to include:

A bibliography that has been correctly set out using Harvard format
Length at least 500 words, maximum 700
Remember that your essay needs to include an introduction, main body (containing
at least 4 main paragraphs) and a conclusion.

PROCESS
Planning:

Determine what the question asks and what sort of information

you need to include.
Research and collect your information
Record your information sources accurately
Draft 1
Write your first draft ensuring that you have written your
information in your own words and have included a bibliography
(Harvard format)
Proofread and feedbackSubmit to your teacher for proofing
Redraft
Rewrite in the light of teacher feedback
Submit
Submit by the due date

ASSESSMENT

An assessment rubric has been included so you can determine what areas are being
assessed.

DUE DATE
15th June

DRAFT: Wednesday 10th June

FINAL COPY: Monday

HISTORICAL SKILLS
Chronology, Terms
and Concepts

Clear recognition and explanation of patterns of

change and continuity over time
Well-considered explanation of the causes and
effects of events and developments
A

Well-considered identification of the motives and

actions of people at the time.

Consistently identifies
continuity and change
over a broad time
period.

Highly informed explanation of the significance of

individuals and groups and how they were
influenced by the beliefs and values of their
society.

Highly proficient use of

historical terms and
concepts

Insightful descriptions of different interpretations of

the past.
Mostly clear recognition and explanation of
patterns of change and continuity over time
Thoughtful explanation of the causes and effects
of events and developments
B

Considered identification of the motives and

actions of people at the time.
Well-informed explanation of the significance of
individuals and groups and how they were
influenced by the beliefs and values of their
society.
Some insightful descriptions of different
interpretations of the past.
Adequate recognition and explanation of patterns
of change and continuity over time
Satisfactory explanation of the causes and effects
of events and developments

Some considered identification of the motives and

actions of people at the time.
Satisfactory explanation of the significance of
individuals and groups and how they were
influenced by the beliefs and values of their
society.

Perceptively places
historical events,
developments and
periods in sequence.

Acceptable descriptions of different interpretations

of the past.
Occasional recognition and explanation of
patterns of change and continuity over time
Partial explanation of the causes and effects of
events and developments
Some identification of the motives and actions of
people at the time.
Little explanation of the significance of individuals
and groups and how they were influenced by the
beliefs and values of their society.
Attempted descriptions of different interpretations
of the past.

Minimal or no recognition and explanation of

patterns of change and continuity over time
Limited or no explanation of the causes and
effects of events and developments
Very little or no identification of the motives and
actions of people at the time.
No explanation of the significance of individuals
and groups and how they were influenced by the
beliefs and values of their society.
Minimal or no descriptions of different
interpretations of the past.

Competently places
historical events,
developments and
periods in sequence.
Consistently identifies
continuity and change
over a broad time
period.
Proficient use of
historical terms and
concepts

Places historical events,

developments and
periods in sequence.
Identifies continuity and
change over a broad
time period.
Adequate use of
historical terms and
concepts

Inconsistently places
historical events,
developments and
periods in sequence.
Partially identifies
continuity and change
over a broad time
period.
Partial use of historical
terms and concepts
Attempted or no to
place historical events,
developments and
periods in sequence.
Limited or no
identification continuity
and change over a
broad time period.
Very little or no use of
historical terms and
concepts

Historical
Questions and
Research
Independently
identifies a range
of questions
about the past to
inform a
historical inquiry
Identifies and
locates highly
relevant sources
using ICT and
other methods

Capably
identifies a range
of questions
about the past to
inform a
historical inquiry
Capably
identifies and
locates relevant
sources using
ICT and other
methods

Adequately
identifies a range
of questions
about the past to
inform a
historical inquiry
Adequately
identifies and
locates relevant
sources using
ICT and other
methods

Occasionally
identifies a range
of questions
about the past to
inform a
historical inquiry
Partially
identifies and
locates relevant
sources using
ICT and other
methods
Inconsistently
identifies a range
of questions
about the past to
inform a
historical inquiry
Attempted to
identify and
locate relevant
sources using
ICT and other
methods

Analysis and Use of Sources

Comprehensive identification and

evaluation of the origin and
purpose of primary and
secondary sources
Carries out thorough research by
locating, comparing, selecting
and using information as
evidence from a wide range of
relevant sources
Consistently draws insightful
conclusions about the usefulness
of sources

Thoughtful identification and

evaluation of the origin and
purpose of primary and
secondary sources
Carries out research by locating,
comparing, selecting and using
information as evidence from a
wide range of sources
Consistently draws relevant
conclusions about the usefulness
of sources

Satisfactory identification and

evaluation of the origin and
purpose of primary and
secondary sources
Carries out research by locating,
comparing, selecting and using
information as evidence from a
satisfactory range of sources
Draws relevant conclusions
about the usefulness of sources

Some identification and

evaluation of the origin and
purpose of primary and
secondary sources
Carries out some research by
locating, comparing, selecting
and using information as
evidence from a few sources
Draws a few conclusions about
the usefulness of sources
Little or no identification and
evaluation of the origin and
purpose of primary and
secondary sources
Carries out some research by
locating, comparing, selecting
and using information as
evidence from two or less
sources
Draws limited or no conclusions
about the usefulness of sources

Perspectives
and
Interpretation
s

Explanation and
Communication

Highly
proficient use
of primary and
secondary
sources to
effectively
identify and
describe points
of view,
attitudes and
values of a
society and/or
time period.

Effectively uses highly appropriate

language and structural features
to develop texts that describe and
explain specific findings

Uses primary
and secondary
sources to
effectively
identify and
describe points
of view,
attitudes and
values of a
society and/or
time period.

Consistently uses appropriate

language and structural features
to develop texts that describe and
explain specific findings

Uses primary
and secondary
sources to
competently
identify and
describe points
of view,
attitudes and
values of a
society and/or
time period.

Uses appropriate language and

structural features to develop texts
that describe and explain specific
findings

Uses primary
and secondary
sources to
inconsistently
identify and
describe points
of view,
attitudes and
values of a
society and/or
time period.

Attempts to use appropriate

language and structural features
to develop texts that describe and
explain specific findings.

Little or no use
of primary and
secondary
sources to
identify and
describe points
of view,
attitudes and
values of a
society and/or
time period.

Limited or no attempts to use

appropriate language and
structural features to develop texts
that describe and explain specific
findings.

Clear, consistent and appropriate

acknowledgement of sources
Highly effective use of a range of
communication forms (oral,
graphic, written) and digital
technologies

Consistent and appropriate

acknowledgement of sources
Effectively uses a range of
communication forms (oral,
graphic, written) and digital
technologies

Mostly appropriate
acknowledgement of sources
Uses a range of communication
forms (oral, graphic, written) and
digital technologies

Some appropriate
acknowledgement of sources
Uses basic communication forms
(oral, graphic, written) and digital
technologies

Limited or no acknowledgement of
sources
Attempted use of basic
communication forms (oral,
graphic, written) and digital
technologies