The following constructed response questions/prompts may be used as part of a unit test, standalone quiz, writing task, formative or summative assessment. Constructed responses are not formal essays but concise written thoughts. One constructed response should be completed with each unit. Feel free to create your own written responses and share so they may be added to this list.
Unit 1: Concepts Used in 8th Grade Georgia Studies
Define four of the eight themes of social studies. Explain in your own words why each is important, and/or how it applied to what you learned in 7th grade social studies last year.
Conflict & Change
Distribution of Power
Governance
Location
Rule of Law
Movement & Migration
Individuals, Groups, and Institutions
Technological Innovation
Production, Distribution, and Consumption
Unit 2: Understanding Georgia’s Geography
Identify the relative location of Georgia.
In your response:
- Explain where Georgia is located in relation to hemispheres, continent, nation, and region.
- Explain how each Georgia’s geography affects its climate, natural resources, where people live, and how they trade.
Unit 3: Personal Finance; Georgia’s Economic Growth and Transportation Systems
Georgia benefits from its location and mild climate. Explain how Georgia’s location and climate benefit Georgia’s economy and impacts Georgia’s four transportation systems.
In your response:
- Describe Georgia’s yearly climate with supporting evidence.
- Discuss how Georgia’s geographic location impacts its climate and four transportation systems.
- Explain how Georgia’s transportation systems support Georgia’s economic growth.
- Explain what is economic growth (give examples specific to Georgia).
Unit 4: Impact of Prehistoric Inhabitants, Early Explorers, and Colonization
RAFT Writing Assignment
R – ROLE: Choose your role: Mississippian Indian or early explorer /or/ Georgia settler or Yamacraw Indian
A – AUDIENCE: Choose your audience: yourself as a member of the historic community or another historical
person in the same time period.
F – FORMAT: Choose your format: Personal journal or a letter to another person in the same time period.
- Journals must have no less than four entries of at least five sentences each.
- Letters must include no less than four paragraphs of at least five sentences each.
T – TOPIC: Your topic is “the impact of the explorers on the Mississippian Indians or the impact of Georgia
settlers on the Yamacraw Indians. You must imagine you are a member of one of the groups and give
supporting evidence of the impact one group has on the other. What positive changes have impacted your
life? What negative changes have impacted your life? How are the two groups interacting? Be historically
specific.
Unit 5: Statehood
RAFT Writing Assignment
R – ROLE: Choose your role: Tory, Lobsterback, Loyalist, Patriot, Elijah Clark, Nancy Hart, or Austin Dabney
A – AUDIENCE: Choose your audience: yourself as a member of the historic community or another historical
person in the same time period.
F – FORMAT: Choose your format: Personal journal or a letter to another person in the same time period.
- Journals must have no less than four entries of at least five sentences each.
- Letters must include no less than four paragraphs of at least five sentences each.
T – TOPIC: Your topic is “your position on the American Revolutionary War” and its impact on your life.
You must imagine you are a member of one of the groups and give supporting evidence of the impact the
ARW has on your life. Describe how your life has changed. Give examples of hardships the ARW has
placed on you. Describe your role during the ARW. Be specific and give examples.
Unit 5: Statehood
Compare and contrast the Articles of Confederation to the U.S. Constitution.
In your response:
- Explain the parts of each document.
- Explain how the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation prompted the need for the U.S. Constitution.
- Discuss the strengths of the U.S. Constitution and the benefits of having 3 branches of government as established in the U. S. Constitution.
Unit 5: Statehood
Explain the impact of the removal of the Creek and Cherokee Indians from Georgia.
In your response:
- Explain the Indian Removal Act of 1830.
- Discuss the roles of key people involved in this event: Samuel Worchester, John Ross, Andrew Jackson, and William McIntosh.
- Explain the harsh conditions of the forced removal that resulted in the name Trail of Tears.
Unit 6: State Government
Compare and contrast Georgia’s Constitution to the U.S. Constitution.
In your response:
- Identify the parts of each document.
- Discuss the location of the Bill of Rights in each document.
- Discuss the similarities and the differences of each document.
- Explain the hierarchy of federal and state governments as established by the constitutions.
Unit 7: Local and State Revenue
* Use the circle graph above as needed in support of your response. NOTE: The above graph only represents revenue generated within the state of Georgia, and does not acknowledge federal grants as revenue sources.
Trace sources of state revenue such as personal income tax, sales tax, property tax, and federal grants. Explain why multiple sources of state revenue are necessary for funding a balanced budget.
In your response:
- Define revenue and the individual sources of revenue (for the benefit of your reading audience).
- Explain why diverse and multiple sources of revenue are necessary for generating sufficient state funds.
- Identify the largest source of Georgia’s revenue and explain why this is the largest source.
- Explain how a strong economy supports Georgia’s budget.
Unit 7: Local and State Revenue
* Use the circle graph above as needed in support of your response.
Creating the state budget is the responsibility of the executive branch, yet the legislative branch must approve the state’ budget. Explain the importance of creating a state budget that distributes state revenue to provide public services.
In your response:
- Explain the importance of a budget and basic steps for creating the state budget.
- Analyze how the budget expenditures are allocated.
- Identify the largest expenditure in the state budget and give evidence why this would be the largest expenditure.
- Explain what consequences a poorly developed budget would have on Georgia.
Unit 8: Civil War
Explain the impact Sherman’s March to the Sea had on the Civil War and Georgia. Use the map above as needed to support your response.
In your response:
- Describe the physical details (approximate location, length, and width) of Sherman’s March to the Sea.
- Explain Sherman’s primary goals of this campaign.
- Explain the diverse impacts this campaign had on Georgia (economical and emotional).
- Explain the outcome of Sherman’s March to the Sea.
Unit 9: New South
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) is a landmark United States Supreme Court decision in the United States, upholding the constitutionality of state laws requiring racial segregation in public facilities under the doctrine of "separate but equal”.
Evaluate the impact of Plessy v. Ferguson on the lives of Americans during the New South era.
In your response:
- Explain key events that led to the case.
- Explain “separate but equal” as defined in the New South era.
- Describe the impact of the case on minority Americans during the era.
- Describe the impact of the case on white Americans during the era.
- Explain the basis the Supreme Court used to reach its verdict.
Unit 10: The Early 20th Century
There were several causes to the Great Depression which severely impacted Georgia’s economy. Discuss at least 4 main causes of the Great Depression.
In your response:
- Give explain each cause of the Great Depression and provide examples of its impact on the economy.
- Explain why this economical event was called the “Great Depression.”
- Identify who was hurt the most by the Great Depression and why.
Unit 10: The Early 20th Century
President F.D. Roosevelt’s New Deal Programs were designed to provide economic relief, economic recovery, and economic reform needed to address the Great Depression. Explain the impact of the New Deal Programs on Georgia.
In your response:
- Discuss specific programs in the New Deal that impacted Georgia. You must explain the impact of the CCC, AAA, and the SSA on Georgia, but you may also discuss other programs of your choosing.
- Explain the purpose of the “3 R’s” – relief, recovery, and reform as addressed by the New Deal Programs.
- Explain Governor Eugene Talmadge’s initial position on the New Deal.
-
Unit 11: Post World War II in Georgia
Describe the role of Ivan Allen, Jr. in bringing professional sports to Georgia, and describe the impact of these sports on Georgia’s growth and development.
In your response:
- Explain Ivan Allen’s rationale for bringing professional sports to Georgia.
- Explain positive impacts of professional sports on Georgia’s growth and development.
- Explain the negative impacts of professional sports on Georgia’s development.
- Give examples of diverse jobs created by professional sports (be sure to think beyond the sports’ teams).
- Explain the diverse economic benefits of professional sports as it generates revenue for Georgia.
Unit 12: Civil Rights
Explain the impact of Brown v. Board of Education on Georgia’s families and public schools.
In your response:
- Explain key events that led to the case.
- Explain the basis for which the Supreme Court made its decision.
- Give examples of the impact the Court’s decision had on Georgia’s public schools.
- Explain the role of the Sibley Commission implementing integration of Georgia’s public schools.
Unit 13: Modern Georgia
Describe the role of Jimmy Carter as state senator, governor, president, and post presidency.
In your response:
- Identify where Jimmy Carter is from and his pre-political career (what he did prior to politics).
- Explain Jimmy Carter’s impact on Georgia as a senator and as a governor.
- Describe at least one national key event during Jimmy Carter’s presidency.
- Describe post-presidency humanitarian causes supported by Jimmy Carter.
Unit 13: Modern Georgia
Evaluate the importance of new immigrant communities to the growth and economy of Georgia.
In your response:
- Identify three primary reasons immigrants are attracted to Georgia.
- Explain the impact immigrants have on Georgia’s agricultural economy.
- Describe other contributions immigrants have made to Georgia’s growth and development.