World History
Document Based Question Analysis Assignment
Topic: The Renaissance
THE QUESTION: The period known as the Renaissance witnessed a change
in the nature of man. Compare and contrast
how the views held by the
renaissance thinkers and artists documented
below reflect the values
of the
Renaissance.
Write a written response (1-2 paragraphs) with a thesis statement, supporting
evidence, and conclusion. Make sure to refer to
all the documents in your
response. DO NOT quote from the documents
.
Rather
, refer to them using
parentheses, ex. (Document 1). You will have
the remainder of the period
to work
on this. This assignment will be marked
according to: Strong arguments to answer
the prompt (40 points), reference to the documents
(30 points), thesis statement (10
points), complete sentences (10 points), and proper length (
10 points).
Follow these steps:
1) Read the documents
2) Group the documents. Do the documents support each other? Does one
document offer another perspective?
3) Develop a thesis statement
4) Begin writing
Renaissance Values: Humanism, individualism, secularization (less religious),
religion, status dependent on talent not birth.
DOCUMENT 1- From: Oration on the Dignity of Man
Written by Pico Della Mirandola
"I have set thee," say the Creator to Adam, "in the midst of the world, that thou
mayst the more easily behold and see all that is therein. I created thee a being
neither heavenly nor earthly, neither mortal nor immortal only, that thou mightest
be free to shape and to overcome thyself. Thou mayst sink into a beast
, and be
born
anew to divine likeness....To thee alone is given a growth and a development
depending on thine own free will."