S T U D E N T G U I D E
Social Hierarchies in Ashanti, Ghana
How do social hierarchies impact the way that some decisions are made in Ghana?
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Table of Contents
Skills Focus
Overview and Connect
Read and Check
Analyze / Engage with the Text
Summarize
Develop / Build Your Argument
Draft and Review / Create your CERCA
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Extension Activities
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S K I L L S F O C U S
Build Your Vocabulary: �Map a Word — Chief�
Synonym (similar or like word)
Antonym (opposite word)
Picture of Vocabulary Word
Vocabulary Word and Definition
Part of Speech
Root Word or Origin
Sentence Using Vocabulary Word
Instructions: Analyzing key vocabulary words will help you better understand the texts you are reading. Word mapping can also help the words "stick" in your memory. Complete the map below with the vocabulary word provided in the title. Use a dictionary if necessary. Fill as many boxes as you can.
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S K I L L S F O C U S
Cornell Notes: Understanding a Topic Through Multiple Texts
What is a central, or main, idea? | A central, or main, idea is… |
How do readers find information from more than one text? | Readers find information… |
How can readers compare and contrast multiple texts to understand information? | Readers can compare and contrast… |
Instructions: Take notes on the Direct Instruction lesson using the organizer below. Then summarize and reflect on the next page.
Complete the Direct Instruction lesson online at learn.thinkcerca.com
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S K I L L S F O C U S
Cornell Notes: Understanding a Topic Through Multiple Texts
Summarize and Reflect
In your own words and in complete sentences, write a 3–4 sentence summary of this Direct Instruction lesson. An accurate summary will cover the lesson's central ideas and include important details to support those ideas.
Record your summary here:
O V E R V I E W A N D C O N N E C T
Find Your Purpose for Learning
Instructions: When you have finished reading the Overview for this lesson, answer the following questions in the space below:
What more would you like to learn about how social hierarchies are formed? What would you like to know about how social hierarchies shape who has power versus who doesn’t?
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Read the Overview provided at learn.thinkcerca.com
O V E R V I E W A N D C O N N E C T
Share Your Personal Connection
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Complete the Connect section for this selection at learn.thinkcerca.com
Instructions:�
R E A D
Share Your Reflections
Instructions: During or after you have finished reading, find the questions in the text marked Pause and Reflect. These questions may help you understand the text, or they may help you connect the text to yourself, to other texts, or to the world around you.
Use the space on the left below to answer the reflection questions. Then discuss your answers, noting how they were similar or different.
Record “Pause and Reflect” answers here:
Record discussion reflections here:
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Refer to the Pause and Reflect questions within the Read section of the lesson at learn.thinkcerca.com.
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C H E C K
Test Prep Strategy: Prediction
One way to prepare for assessments is to practice looking for the answers in the text before looking at the answer choices. Use prediction strategies as an opportunity to read a text more carefully.
Read each multiple choice question. In your own words, record your prediction of the correct response in the chart below.
Question on ThinkCERCA | What is the question asking you to do? |
Example: Which of the following statements best explains how the passage is structured? | Look for details on the order of ideas in the passage, like order of importance, or cause and effect. |
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Refer to the multiple choice questions for this lesson at learn.thinkcerca.com.
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A N A L Y Z E / E N G A G E W I T H T H E T E X T
Highlight and Annotate
In this step, you will analyze the text closely, then discuss your findings to begin developing reasoning for your argument.
Return to learn.thinkcerca.com to complete Analyze / Engage with the Text.
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S U M M A R I Z E
Write a Summary
Summaries help you process your thinking about a text and are often a great way to start off an argumentative or informational essay. A good summary shows you have knowledge about a topic.
Practicing summarizing also helps you prepare for the main idea questions posed on many standardized assessments. In addition, summarizing is a helpful skill for working with others, such as when you need to confirm your understanding of what someone else has said. That's a useful skill for all parts of life.
Return to learn.thinkcerca.com to complete Summarize.
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D E V E L O P / B U I L D Y O U R A R G U M E N T
Share your Argument Builder
When you’ve completed the argument building step, share your results with others, and listen to how they responded to the same question. Ask questions, and give feedback to help strengthen your partners’ reasons and evidence.
How do social hierarchies impact the way that some decisions are made in Ghana? | |
Share Your Argument | Listen and Record Others |
1. | |
2. | |
3. | |
Complete Develop / Build Your Argument to begin building your argument at learn.thinkcerca.com
D R A F T A N D R E V I E W / C R E A T E Y O U R C E R C A
Peer Editing Activity
Complete your Draft at learn.thinkcerca.com
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D R A F T A N D R E V I E W / C R E A T E Y O U R C E R C A
Reflect on Your Writing
Before you submit your final CERCA, write a brief reflection describing your experience.
An area for growth for me on this piece or in my writing in general is…
The strongest areas of this piece of writing are…
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Through self-assessment and/or peer editing, I learned…
Extension Activities
The following activities can be used as extensions to this lesson.
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O P T I O N A L E X T E N S I O N : R E S E A R C H A C T I V I T Y
Social Hierarchies Research
Around the world, people are often divided into different social groups. These groupings are called social hierarchies.
Social hierarchies are formed based on a number of different factors. Sometimes work determines where people will be grouped. Sometimes people’s families determine their group. Other times, their grouping has to do with the type of education that they have. The creation of social hierarchies also means that some people will have more power than others. Why do you think this happens?�
Imagine that you are a social historian. This means that it is your job to research the ways in which people have been grouped together throughout history. As a social historian, you will pick a time period and a civilization to study to determine how and why social hierarchies were formed.
Materials Needed
Research
Organize & Explain
Share & Discuss
Present your social hierarchy pyramid and “Why?” cards to your classmates. Allow them to ask questions about the social hierarchy that you’ve covered.
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O P T I O N A L E X T E N S I O N : A C T I V I T Y
Social Hierarchies Research
Directions:
Helpful Resources
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O P T I O N A L E X T E N S I O N : A C T I V I T Y
Social Hierarchies Pyramid
Directions:
Use your ruler to draw straight lines across your pyramid to divide each social group.
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O P T I O N A L E X T E N S I O N : A C T I V I T Y
Why? Cards
Directions:
USE AS MANY OF THESE CARDS AS YOU NEED
The __ (1st|2nd|3rd|4th) person/group is called the �� |
(His|Her|Their) job is to�� |
They have (the most power| a lot of power| some power| very little power) in this society because�� |
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O P T I O N A L E X T E N S I O N : I N Q U I R Y T O R E S E A R C H
Ask Questions of the Texts
As you engage with texts in any subject, you can actively ask questions about the author’s purpose, intended audience, and occasion to understand the message. The table below provides examples.
Approaches | Example |
Questions about the author | Is the author an authority on this topic? What was the author’s motivation in writing this piece? |
Questions about the audience, purpose, and occasion of the text | Why was this article written? Why was it published at this time? |
Questions about civics, economics, geography, and history | How are social hierarchies formed? |
Questions about concepts and ideas | How do social hierarchies benefit some people while actively hurting others? |
Questions about self and community reflections | How do social hierarchies shape who has power versus who doesn’t? |
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O P T I O N A L E X T E N S I O N : I N Q U I R Y T O R E S E A R C H
Ask Questions of the Texts (continued)
Use the table below to record questions about the text you read.
Approaches | Questions |
Questions about the author | |
Questions about the audience, purpose, and occasion of the text | |
Questions about civics, economics, geography, and history | |
Questions about concepts and ideas | |
Self and Community Reflections | |
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