|Grade 8 I&S Assessment - Medieval Europe

Task:

You have been given a task by William the Conqueror to choose a location to build a castle to help control the Saxons and defend the area in case of invasion. Exactly where you build your castle is up to you, but you must decide between Bamburgh (mainland or islands) and the towns of Nottingham and Warwick.

You will need to research and then write a proposal to William the Conqueror to explain why you have chosen one site over another. You are quite passionate about your chosen site, so do your best to be persuasive in your letter. You will need to include the advantages and disadvantages of all three sites and make it clear which is your favourite.

Assessment strands

Knowing and Understanding

i. use a range of terminology in context

ii. demonstrate knowledge and understanding of subject-specific content and concepts, through descriptions, explanations and examples.

Communicating

i. communicate information and ideas in a way that is appropriate for the audience and purpose

ii. structure information and ideas according to the task instructions

iii. create a reference list and cite sources of information.

Thinking Critically

i. analyse concepts, issues, models, visual representation and/or theories

ii. summarize information to make valid, well-supported arguments

iv. recognize different perspectives and explain their implications.

Criteria	Level
Criteria	1-2	3-4	5-6	7-8
Knowing and Understanding	Explanations demonstrate limited knowledge and understanding of what made a good castle location during Medieval times.	Explanations demonstrate basic knowledge and understanding of what made a good castle location during Medieval times.	Explanations demonstrate sound knowledge and understanding of what made a good castle location during Medieval times.	Explanations demonstrate excellent knowledge and understanding of what made a good castle location during Medieval times.
Knowing and Understanding	Makes limited use of terminology fit with Medieval times.	Uses some terminology fit with Medieval times.	Uses a good range of terminology fit with Medieval times.	Consistently uses a range of terminology fit with Medieval times accurately.
Communicating	Communicates information in way that attempts to be persuasive and gives few reasons why one castle location is better than the others.	Communicates information in a somewhat persuasive way and gives some reasons why one castle location is better than the others.	Communicates information in a persuasive way and explains why one castle location is better than the others.	Communicates information in a persuasive way and clearly explains why one castle location is better than the others in detail.
	Rarely structures the argument to show the advantages and disadvantages of each site.	Sometimes structures the argument to show the advantages and disadvantages of each site.	Often structures the argument to show the advantages and disadvantages of each site and there is a conclusion..	Always structures the argument to show the advantages and disadvantages of each site and there is a clear conclusion.
	Does not cite any of the sources in Harvard format	Only cites some of the sources used in Harvard format.	Mostly cites the sources used in Harvard format.	Always cites the sources used in Harvard format.
Thinking Critically	Can develop a limited argument to show why one site would be better to build a castle on than the others.	Can develop a simple argument to show why one site would be better to build a castle on than the others.	Can develop a satisfactory argument to show why one site would be better to build a castle on than the others.	Can develop a detailed argument to show why one site would be better to build a castle on than the others.
	Does not use any evidence to support argument.	Uses Google map evidence to support a simple argument.	Uses Google maps and one other form of evidence to support a valid argument.	Uses Google maps and more than one other form of evidence to support a valid argument.
	Attempts to recognize the advantage and disadvantages of the sites, but is not always accurate.	Briefly recognizes the advantages and disadvantages of each site AND attempts to offer a solution to the proposed location.	Accurately recognizes the advantages and disadvantages of each site AND offers solutions to any disadvantages of the proposed location.	Clearly recognizes the advantages and disadvantages of each site AND offers thoughtful solutions to any disadvantages of the proposed location.