Writing Assistance Theme: Change [Individuals Who Have Changed History]— King Hammurabi

Step 1&2: Use active reading strategies to understand the task.

Theme: Change [Individuals Who Have Changed History] The beliefs and achievements of individuals have changed global history. These beliefs and achievements have had positive and negative effects on society.

Task: Identify two individuals who have changed global history and for each • Explain one belief or achievement of that individual • Discuss the positive and/or negative effects of the individual’s belief or achievement

Explain means “to make plain or understandable; to give reasons for or causes of; to show the logical development or relationships of.”

Discuss means “to make observations about something using facts, reasoning, and argument; to present in some detail”

Step 3: Formulate a preliminary claim (it might need revision later).

One individual who has had a huge impact on history is King Hammurabi. The beliefs and achievements of individuals have changed global history. These beliefs and achievements have had positive and negative effects on society. Claim One individual who has had a huge impact on history is King Hammurabi.

Steps 4 & 5: Collect information and record it on a graphic organizer.

Change [Individuals Who Have Changed History] King Hammurabi (ancient Babylonian Empire [Mesopotamia], 1750 BCE) Hammurabi’s Code As king of the Babylonian Empire in Mesopotamia, Hammurabi established one of the earliest written law codes. He had his laws carved into stone pillars, which he had put in public places in Babylonian cities, so everyone could see the laws. The law code is remembered for its harsh punishment of crime to create law and order. The famous quote that illustrates this is “an eye for an eye; a tooth for a tooth.” There were social class distinction in the Code though. A rich person, for instance, who injured a poor person could pay a fine instead of receiving the same injury. One belief or achievement Established the precedent for codified laws Hammurabi’s Code established the expectation that laws should be codified, or written out. This is as opposed to the ruler or judges making individual decisions in each case that lacked any consistency. While not all future civilizations copied the Code, many did. Ancient Rome had the Twelve Tables, for instance. Later, in the Roman Empire, Emperor Justinian established Justinian’s Code. Much later, Napoleon Bonaparte in France established a written law code called the Napoleonic Code, that was the basis of modern European laws codes. It was noteworthy because it contained some of the ideals of the Enlightenment, such as establishing legal equality for the first time in France. Today, most countries have written law codes to provide order, consistency and stability. Positive and/or negative effect

Step 6: Revisit your claim. Revise it, if necessary.

Step 7: Write your response, using your graphic organizer to guide you Step 7: Write your response, using your graphic organizer to guide you. Make sure your points are in a logical order.

Step 8: Re-read and edit your response Step 8: Re-read and edit your response. Remember, capitalization counts in this class.