This comprehensive Document-Based Question (DBQ) Packet challenges students to answer the central focus question: In what ways did the shift from faith to individualism inspire the great ideas of the Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment?
Aligned with Common Core history and literacy standards (6-8.1–10) and modeled after SBAC and NY Regents-style assessments, this resource scaffolds primary source analysis and historical argument writing for middle schoolers.
$4.00
Historical Background & Student Task List: Connects prior knowledge and provides clear assignment steps before document reading.
7 Primary & Secondary Source Documents: Paired with text-dependent comprehension questions (ideal for individual work or a 7-station rotation activity).
3 Differentiated Essay Writing Options: Flexible response prompts designed to meet varying student reading and writing levels.
Scaffolded Essay Templates: Guided writing frameworks provided both with and without sentence stems for Claim, Evidence, and Commentary.
Guided Practice & Commentary Printable: Reference sheets that teach students how to expand on cited evidence in their own words.
Comprehensive DBQ Scoring Rubric: Clear evaluation criteria for document citations, historical reasoning, and writing mechanics.
Scientific Innovation: Copernicus, Galileo, and René Descartes challenging traditional worldviews.
Political Philosophy: John Locke and Baron de Montesquieu redefining human rights and governance.
Renaissance Foundations: Petrarch’s humanism and Gutenberg’s printing press spreading new ideas.
Primary Source Literacy: Analyzing historical texts, scientific theories, and political documents for evidence.
Cause & Effect Analysis: Connecting scientific questioning directly to new political and social theories.
Structured Argumentation: Formulating claims supported by textual citations and student-generated commentary.
This was a LABOR OF LOVE, that took an unimaginable amount of time. Have a great lesson!
✎✎✎ SAVE BIG! This activity set is also included in a the discounted Enlightenment Bundle!
