Black Plague DBQ - mrshaganhistory.com€¦ · C. Identify the effects the plague had on Europe’s population. Black Plague DBQ Prompt: Why was the Bubonic Plague so devastating

Black Plague DBQ7th Grade World History

Black Plague DBQQuietly read and annotate the Historical Context. We will discuss it as a class.

Your task is to read the documents and answer the prompt in a 5 paragraph essay.

Prompt: Why was the Bubonic Plague so devastating to European society?

Your essay must include the following:

A. Describe how the Bubonic Plague spread through Europe.B. Explain society’s reactions (how and why) to the epidemic.C. Identify the effects the plague had on Europe’s population.

Black Plague DBQPrompt: Why was the Bubonic Plague so devastating to European society?

Your essay must include the following (these will be your body paragraphs):

A. Describe how the Bubonic Plague spread through Europe.B. Explain society’s reactions (how and why) to the epidemic.C. Identify the effects the plague had on Europe’s population.

● Explain how each of these things caused devastation to European society.

● To do this, read the documents and find evidence that discusses how the plague continued to spread, how people reacted when others were dying around them, and the effects the plague had on the population.

● Your evidence should be a quote from the documents, unless the document is a map or chart, then you will explain only what the map/chart shows.

Document ChartDocument # and Citation

EvidenceQuote from the text

#1“The Bubonic Plague Spreads Through Europe” map

Spread: The plague started along the Italian coast and then spread throughout the rest of the continent within three and a half years.

The plague was brought to Europe through trade, as Italy was a major trade center, and continued to spread rapidly along trade routes.

Include as much source information as possible (title, author, etc). This will be the information you use to cite your sources in your essay.

You may need to have more than one piece of evidence from a document. Be sure to complete the entire Document Chart (all 8 spaces) to gather all the information you will need to write your essay. The more

effort you put in here, the easier the essay will be to write.

CommentaryHow does the evidence show the devastation caused by the spread, reactions, or effects of the plague?



#1“The Bubonic Plague Spreads Through Europe”

Spread: The plague started along the Italian coast and then spread throughout the rest of the continent within three years.

The plague was brought to Europe through trade, as Italy was a major trade center, and continued to spread rapidly along trade routes.

#2 The DecameronBy Giovanni Boccaccio

Spread: In his book The Decameron, Giovanni Boccaccio states, “(insert text from passage.)”





#2 The DecameronBy Giovanni Boccaccio

Spread: In his book The Decameron, Giovanni Boccaccio states, “(insert text from passage.)”

#3 The Florentine ChronicleBy Marchione di Coppo Stafani

Reaction: According to Marchione di Coppo Stefani in The Florentine Chronicle, “(insert text from passage.)”

OutlineIntro: Introduce the topic DO NOT PUT EVIDENCE IN THIS PARAGRAPH!Explain what you know about the Black Plague (where it came from, when and how it got to Europe, what it was like for people with the plague.)Claim: The Bubonic Plague was so devastating to European society because (insert reasons [what are your body paragraphs about?] here)

Topic Sentence (body paragraph #1): Talk about how the spread of the disease devastated Europe (try not to use the word “devastated” too many times).Evidence: For example, according to the map, “The Bubonic Plague Spreads Through Europe,” the plague entered Europe along the Italian coast and then spread throughout the rest of the continent within three years.Commentary:This shows that The plague was brought to Europe through trade, as Italy was a major trade center, and continued to spread rapidly along trade routes.

Transition source/citation Evidence

Outline - Evidence & CommentaryTopic Sentence: The rapid spread of the disease was a key factor in the destruction of European society.Evidence: For example, according to the map, “The Bubonic Plague Spreads Through Europe,” the plague entered Europe along the Italian coast and then spread throughout the rest of the continent within three and a half years.

Commentary: This shows that… (this is a “training wheel.” You can use it in your outline, but get rid of it for the final - your essay will sound better!)Analyze, don’t summarize! Explain how the evidence shows the spread, reactions to, or effects of the plague.

This shows that The plague was brought to Europe through trade, as Italy was a major trade center, and continued to spread rapidly along trade routes.

Transition source/citation Evidence

OutlineIntro: Introduce the topic DO NOT PUT EVIDENCE IN THIS PARAGRAPH!Explain what you know about the Black Plague (where it came from, when and how it got to Europe, what it was like for people with the plague.)Claim: The Bubonic Plague was so devastating to European society because of how quickly it spread, the ways society reacted to it, and the effects it had on Europe’s population.

Topic Sentence (body paragraph #1): The rapid spread of the disease was a key factor in the destruction of European society.Evidence: For example, according to the map, “The Bubonic Plague Spreads Through Europe,” the plague entered Europe along the Italian coast and then spread throughout the rest of the continent within three years.Commentary:The plague was brought to Europe through trade, as Italy was a major trade center, and continued to spread rapidly along trade routes.

Outline & Rough Draft Day1. Finish Outline2. Rough Draft

a. Use your outline to help you structure your essay.b. Double spaced (makes proofreading and editing easier)

3. Proof Read & Edita. Read your draft and make any changes needed.

4. Peer Reviewa. Have a partner read your draft and make suggestions.

Peer Review Day1. Finish Rough Draft

a. Use your outline to help you structure your essay.2. Proof Read & Edit

a. Read your draft and make any changes needed.3. Peer Review

a. You must have at least 1 classmate read your rough draft and make suggestions.

b. They must leave feedback (in pen) on your rough draft.

Rough & Final Drafts1. Finish Outline2. Rough Draft

a. Use your outline to help you structure your essay.3. Proofread & Edit

a. Read your draft and make any changes needed.4. Peer Review

a. Have a partner read your draft and make suggestions.5. Final Draft

a. On a separate piece of paper (DOUBLE SPACED)

Final Draft Day1. Final Draft

a. Double space! Don’t add extra space for new paragraphs, just indent.

2. Make sure everything in your DBQ packet is complete.

3. Staple your packet in the following order:

a. Final Draft

b. Rough Draft

c. DBQ Packet

4. Make sure your name is on EVERYTHING!

5. When finished, proofread your work.

Rubric● Packet (total 20 pts)

○ Documents

■ Fully annotated + questions answered = 2pts each document

○ Document Chart (out of 4pts)

■ 100% = 4, 75% = 3, 50% = 2, 25% = 1, Not done = 0

○ Outline (out of 4 pts)

■ 100% = 4, 75% = 3, 50% = 2, 25% = 1, Not done = 0

Rubric● Essay (out of 20 pts)

Rough Draft - 10pts100% = 1090% = 980% = 870% = 750% = 5Etc to 0

Final Draft - 10pts100% = 1090% = 980% = 870% = 750% = 5Etc to 0

Total Score: Total the Packet points earned with the Essay points earned.

Packet points + Essay points = Total Score/ 40