NAME: _______________________________________ BAND:_____
LITERACY TASK: WHAT IS CIVILIZATION?
Directions: Based on our class discussion and our worksheet write a brief response to the following question.
What advantages/disadvantages did the development of civilization create for humans? Explain and Elaborate.
-Use at least 2 examples to support your answer: For example (Organized Government, Job Specialization, Writing, etc.)
-make a comparison to Neolithic or Paleolithic time periods to further support your response
-Write a 6-8 sentence paragraph using the TEAL format.
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SAMPLE RESPONSE 1
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The development of civilization expanded the abilities humans had in earlier times. For example, Cities played a large role in the development of civilization, because they allowed for humans to learn irrigation and farm. "...with a surplus of food available, many people could spend their time specializing in crafts and skills. Humans were given time to learn new things and did not have to travel for food. Another component of the development of civilization was writing. Sumerians created a system of writing called cuneiform, a picture-based communication. "Writing allowed for better communication and record keeping. Which assisted with trade and government." With a way to communicate humans were better able to understand one another. The formation of cities led to the development of irrigation, which allowed for humans to have food surpluses and more time for leisure activities or learning something new. Additionally, the formation of writing gave humans the ability to efficiently talk among each other and understand what was being said. This would allow humans to trade goods and govern the city properly. From the Paleolithic time period, humans had learned some things, vital to their nomadic survival, however, as civilizations formed the skills of the nomads were improved upon and sparked the learning of new skills and techniques such as irrigation and writing. In civilizations, a nomadic lifestyle was not necessary and humans could communicate with each other and understand each other. In conclusion, advantages of the development of civilization were the humans' ability to explore new hidden skills and improve the skills they already had so that they would support the lifestyle humans had in civilization.
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SAMPLE RESPONSE 2
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The development of civilization created advantages for humans. An advantage for humans is job specialization, in document 1 "Rice of city-states" it states "Farming greatly increased the amount of food available. Now with a a surplus of food available, many people could spend their time specializing in crafts and skills." This shows that the people spent more time specializing in needed skills and that farming was also an advantage for humans. Another advantage for humans is also building (construction), in document "ancient Mesopotamia" it states "The Sumerians learned to control the Tigris and Euphrates rivers by building levees and irrigation canals. Document "Sumerian Inventions" also states "the Sumerians also invented the wheel and arch which improved transportation and building design." Both of these pieces of evidence support the idea that building was an advantage for humans. Especially since that today we still use wheels as a way of transportation. The Neolithic and Paleolithic time periods both had impacts for humans as well, without the Paleolithic and Neolithic time periods basic advancements in hunting first, then farming were improvements that made the development of civilization possible. In conclusion, the development of civilization had advantages for humans.
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