Task Analysis for Production
Paleolithic Age versus Neolithic Age
Student Learning Goal – For what content and language will students be held accountable?
Students will understand differences between people’s lives in the Paleolithic and Neolithic Ages by
contrasting three features in a five-paragraph essay.
Sample Student Response – What do you expect students to say and/or write? By comparing people who lived in the Paleolithic and Neolithic Ages, it is clear that they were very different
in how they got their food, where they lived, and the skills they developed. In the Paleolithic Age, people had to
hunt and gather for their food. People moved often to follow the animals they hunted, so their shelters were
temporary. They relied on stone tools for hunting and building. However, in the Neolithic Age, people learned
how to plant crops and domesticate animals; therefore, they were able to stay in one place and build permanent
homes. People also started making iron and metal tools.
One notable difference is in how they got their food. In the Paleolithic Age, people had to hunt animals and
gather edible plants to eat. They were nomads, meaning they were always on the move, following the herds of
animals they hunted. While people hunted, they would sometimes get hurt or killed. In contrast, in the Neolithic
Age, people began to develop agriculture; they could now domesticate animals and plant crops to harvest. Due
to this development, they were able to create a stable food supply and stay in one place.
Another way people differed is in how and where they lived. Since the people in the Paleolithic Age were
nomads, they didn’t have a permanent home, as they were always moving. They made tent-like structures or
stayed in caves, then kept moving. On the other hand, in the Neolithic Age, because of their skill in agriculture,
people built permanent houses. They made their houses out of mud bricks with high openings to protect them
from animals. This also protected people from harsh weather and made their lives more comfortable. In addition,
they developed new ways of cooking and began living in larger communities.
A final difference is in the skills they developed. In the Paleolithic Age, people only made stone tools. Their
main job was to find enough food to survive, whereas in the Neolithic Age, people had a stable food supply and
were able to develop new jobs. They had jobs as weavers, basket makers, toolmakers, and traders. Since people
were able to specialize in different jobs, they were able to get work done faster and have more free time. In this
free time, people made their surroundings more beautiful by decorating pottery and polishing stones.
People in the Paleolithic and Neolithic Ages differed in how they got food, how they lived, and the skills
they developed. Neolithic people had moved on from hunting and gathering to domesticating animals and
planting crops. Permanent shelters resulted in bigger communities, better tools, and new jobs. This shows that
the Neolithic Age was better than the Paleolithic Age in many ways. Function – Which language function(s) will students be expected to use? ý Cause and Effect ý Compare and Contrast ý Explain and Describe
£ Proposition and Support £ Sequence Bricks – What content-­specific language will students be expected to know and use? Paleolithic Age, Neolithic Age, skills, agriculture, crops, hunt and gather, nomad/nomadic,
domesticate/domesticated animals, stable food supply, specialize/specialization, temporary/permanent
shelters
Mortar – What functional words and phrases will students be expected to know and use? Compare & Contrast: comparing, different, differed, difference, however, in contrast, on the other hand,
whereas, better than
Cause & Effect: so, therefore, because, since, as, resulted in, due to
Explain & Describe: __ who __, it is clear that, also, another way, in addition, with, meaning, this shows
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Humanities Essay Rubric
Paleolithic versus Neolithic
Historical knowledge
Writing skills
Understand the main idea and use of
details from the text on the Paleolithic
and Neolithic Ages
Use of introduction, transitions, and
conclusion to support form and content
of a five-paragraph essay
Bricks
Use of appropriate content vocabulary,
phrases, and clauses:
Mortar
Language
Secondary Constructing Meaning: Institute Materials
Content
Criteria
Paleolithic and Neolithic,
hunter/gatherer, nomad/nomadic,
agriculture, crops, domesticated animals,
stable food supply, specialization,
temporary/permanent shelters
Use of functional academic language and
formal style with an emphasis on
compare and contrast words:
9-30
by comparing, different, differed,
difference, however, in contrast, on the
other hand
4
3
2
1
Demonstrates a
thorough and critical
understanding of three
differences for people
living in the
Paleolithic and
Neolithic Ages;
effectively integrates
appropriate examples
throughout the essay
Demonstrates a sound
understanding of three
differences for people
living in the
Paleolithic and
Neolithic Ages;
chooses adequate
examples for each of
the supporting
paragraphs
Shows some
understanding of
differences for people
living in the
Paleolithic and
Neolithic Ages, but
misconstrues certain
aspects; develops ideas
with some facts and
general details
Demonstrates poor
understanding of
differences for people
living in the
Paleolithic and
Neolithic Ages;
utilizes generalizations
without adequate
support
Introduction,
transitions, and
conclusion
successfully support
the structure and topic
Introduction,
transitions, and
conclusion generally
support the structure
and topic
Introduction,
transitions, and
conclusion are
adequate but may not
fit the structure and
topic
Poor introductory,
transitional, and
concluding statements
which do not support
the structure and topic
Writing is marked by a
thoughtful and fluent
use of learned content
vocabulary, phrases,
and clauses
Writing includes
appropriate use of
learned content
vocabulary, phrases,
and clauses
Writing demonstrates
adequate use of
learned content
vocabulary, phrases,
and clauses
Writing shows limited
skill in using learned
content vocabulary,
phrases, and clauses
Explores the topic with
fluent use of a range of
academic language
and consistently writes
in a formal style with
sentence variety
Displays sound use of
a variety of academic
words and phrases and
generally writes in a
formal style
Uses some academic
language but may
disregard some of the
more formal stylistic
choices; may repeat
familiar academic
words too often
Neglects or misuses
academic language,
which detracts from
the formal style