This written diverse assessment  gives your year 8 classes the chance to encounter historical scholarship head on.

This fits with good assessment practice at KS3.

First, students are introduced to a fascinating interpretation by James Collins who explains how Early Modern Europeans re-defined themselves.

He discusses how explorers discovered new continents. If you wanted to supplement this with some lessons on travel across continents you could think about teaching the Silk Roads.

Then, they unpick what he says via three simple questions.

Next they use their knowledge to come up with reasons which agree and disagree with the interpretation.

Finally, using criteria, they write a response to the historian explain to what extent they agree with him.

You can draw upon this criteria, too, in providing formative feedback within the space provided on the worksheet.

In all, this engaging assessment encourages students to write effectively, in an analytical way.

This is a great introduction to written assessment for year 8 students, with everything set up and ready for you to use.