The Reformation: 1517-1648

Introduction
 
It was the cause of numerous deaths, wars, movements, expulsions, emigrations, immigrations, and changes in thought.  Some deemed it as heresy while others saw it as just.  For many it started with just one man, regardless of what happened was his intention or not. Due to his overwhelming animosity and agitation towards the Catholic Church, particularly in regards to indulgences, Martin Luther wrote his Ninety-Five Theses and reportedly nailed them to the doors of a church in Germany on October 31st, 1517.  This document sought to point out various practices within the Catholic Church that Luther saw to be corrupt.  Soon after, his theses were published and the arguments within it sparked the Protestant Reformation.  It spread swiftly throughout Europe causing not only religious schisms, but political ones as well that have had ramifications lasting even to this day.  The Protestant Reformation changed the way man looked not only at the papacy, or Catholicism, but also at Christianity.  For many this signaled the end fo the so-called Middle Ages and the start of the Renaissance. 
Task
 
This WebQuest will have you explore the causes of the Protestant Reformation as well as the effects. YOU are the historian!  You will be in a group with 3 or 4 of your fellow historians to answer several questions.  Your goal is to go through provided resources to find the causes as well as the short-term, long-term, and permanent ramifications of the Protestant Reformation.  Together your group will be charged with the job of political advisors to a European monarch during the 16th century.  Your group's role is to cooperatively come up with political, social, and economic reasons for allowing or condemning Protestantism in your country and present your group's arguments to your monarch.  Once your group comes to a consensus you will create a presentation showcasing your argument.  Also, each of you will individually write a short writing assignment on how the Protestant Reformation has changed the world. There are many conflicting opinions and arguments out there and this is a sensitive subject, so please remember you are an historian and thus a professional.  Please remain, sensitive, considerate, and respectful to other's views.  
 
Process
 

Let's begin! 

This webquest is to be completed in each of your Google accounts or on paper, if you have questions about how to access your account make sure to ask your teacher or another student for help. 

  The first part is to be called Reformation Webquest Part One, the second part is to be called Reformation Webquest Part Two. 

(If you doing the assignment on Google Docs make sure you share both documents with your teacher, if you don't remember how to share, please ask someone.)

In the first part of your WebQuest you should scrounge the internet for "good sites," no Wikipedia. Your objective is to answer the following 13 questions:

  1. Who was involved in the Protestant Reformation?  Was it just clergy and nobility?
  2. Who was for it, who opposed it, and why?
  3. Who was Martin Luther?
  4. What were Luther's grievances with the Catholic Church?
  5. Who was John Calvin and what was his role in the Reformation?
  6. Who was Pope Leo X and what was his role in the Reformation?
  7. Why were some people, authorities, and government so quick to become Protestant?
  8. What happened to the Catholic Church as a result of this Reformation movement?
  9. What happened to Christianity as a result of this Reformation movement?
  10. How has this changed the way Europeans viewed themselves?
  11. Was Martin Luther solely responsible for the Protestant Reformation, why?
  12. Was what ultimately happened to Europe and Christianity Luther's true intention, why?
  13. How has it shaped the world, as we know it today? (this one is crucial to part two!)

If you are in period 3 and 4, your final step is below:The final step to this WebQuest, part two, you will be writing a short response approximately 1 page (worth 30 points), exploring the issue of the Protestant Reformation.  The main question that must be answered in the paper is "How has the Protestant Reformation shaped the world as we know it today?"  This is a persuasive piece so your opinions are welcomed, BUT they must be backed up with facts.  Call upon your findings during your research to lead you to your own answer, however, this may require further research.  Think about wars, formations of new Protestant denominations (Methodists, Presbyterians, etc...), and the role of the common man in religion to help with your paper.


If you are in period 6, your final step is below:The final step to this WebQuest, part two, you will be writing a short paper, 2-3 pages in length (worth 30 points), exploring the issue of the Protestant Reformation.  The main question that must be answered in the paper is "How has the Protestant Reformation shaped the world as we know it today?"  This is a persuasive piece so your opinions are welcomed, BUT they must be backed up with sources and facts.  Call upon your findings during your research, group work, and other groups' presentations to lead you to your own answer, however, this will require further research.  Think about wars, formations of new Protestant denominations, and the role of the common man in religion to help with your paper.


If you are in period 5, 8 and 9, your final step is below:
The final step to this WebQuest, part two, you will be writing a short response approximately 1-2 paragraphs (worth 30 points), exploring the issue of the Protestant Reformation.  The main question that must be answered in the paper is "How has the Protestant Reformation shaped the world as we know it today?"  This is a persuasive piece so your opinions are welcomed, BUT they must be backed up with facts.  Call upon your findings during your research to lead you to your own answer, however, this may require further research.  Think about wars, formations of new Protestant denominations (Methodists, Presbyterians, etc...), and the role of the common man in religion to help with your paper.
Evaluation
 
 
 
     

Your project rubric is listed below:

Reformation Webquest Part One Rubric

 

CATEGORY 10 7.5 5 2.5
Quality of Information Information clearly relates to the main topic. It includes several supporting details and/or examples. Information clearly relates to the main topic. It provides 1-2 supporting details and/or examples. Information clearly relates to the main topic. No details and/or examples are given. Information has little or nothing to do with the main topic.
Internet Use Successfully uses suggested internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance. Usually able to use suggested internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance. Occasionally able to use suggested internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance. Needs assistance or supervision to use suggested internet links and/or to navigate within these sites.
Organization Information is very organized with well-constructed paragraphs and subheadings. Information is organized with well-constructed paragraphs. Information is organized, but paragraphs are not well-constructed. The information appears to be disorganized. 8)
Mechanics No grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors. Almost no grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors A few grammatical spelling, or punctuation errors. Many grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors.

Reformation Webquest Part Two Rubric

CATEGORY 10 - Above Standards 7.5 - Meets Standards 5 - Approaching Standards 2.5 - Below Standards Score
Grammar & Spelling Author makes no errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content. Author makes 1-2 errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content. Author makes 3-4 errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content. Author makes more than 4 errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content.  
Attention Grabber The introductory paragraph has a strong hook or attention grabber that is appropriate for the audience. This could be a strong statement, a relevant quotation, statistic, or question addressed to the reader. The introductory paragraph has a hook or attention grabber, but it is weak, rambling or inappropriate for the audience. The author has an interesting introductory paragraph but the connection to the topic is not clear. The introductory paragraph is not interesting AND is not relevant to the topic.  
Capitalization & Punctuation Author makes no errors in capitalization or punctuation, so the essay is exceptionally easy to read. Author makes 1-2 errors in capitalization or punctuation, but the essay is still easy to read. Author makes a few errors in capitalization and/or punctuation that catch the reader\'s attention and interrupt the flow. Author makes several errors in capitalization and/or punctuation that catch the reader\'s attention and interrupt the flow.  
Evidence and Examples All of the evidence and examples are specific, relevant and explanations are given that show how each piece of evidence supports the author\'s position. Most of the evidence and examples are specific, relevant and explanations are given that show how each piece of evidence supports the author\'s position. At least one of the pieces of evidence and examples is relevant and has an explanation that shows how that piece of evidence supports the author\'s position. Evidence and examples are NOT relevant AND/OR are not explained.  
Support for Position Includes 3 or more pieces of evidence (facts, statistics, examples, real-life experiences) that support the position statement. The writer anticipates the reader\'s concerns, biases or arguments and has provided at least 1 counter-argument. Includes 3 or more pieces of evidence (facts, statistics, examples, real-life experiences) that support the position statement. Includes 2 pieces of evidence (facts, statistics, examples, real-life experiences) that support the position statement. Includes 1 or fewer pieces of evidence (facts, statistics, examples, real-life experiences).  
Sequencing Arguments and support are provided in a logical order that makes it easy and interesting to follow the author\'s train of thought. Arguments and support are provided in a fairly logical order that makes it reasonably easy to follow the author\'s train of thought. A few of the support details or arguments are not in an expected or logical order, distracting the reader and making the essay seem a little confusing. Many of the support details or arguments are not in an expected or logical order, distracting the reader and making the essay seem very confusing.  
Conclusion
 
Well you've done it!  You have explored the web and other resources to get to the bottom of the Protestant Reformation.  Through research, group work, and individual work you have sought out and found the causes ad the political, social, and economic consequences fo the Reformation throughout Europe in the 16th century.  You were able to share your arguments and absorb your group's in or order to tackle a 16th century issue.  You've'even traced the Reformations ramifications all the way to today and were hopefully able to see the way it shaped the modern world.  Congratulations! If you would like to learn further about this check out these sources below: 
 
     
     
 
Medieval Life and Times 
Overview of the Reformation and focus on grievances made by Protestants against the Catholic Church
 
     
     
 
New Advent 
This part of the site specifically deals with John Wyclif. Wyclif whose time was earlier than Luther's, was considered a precursor to the Protestant Reformation because of some of his views towards the Catholic Church.
 
     
     
 
YouTube 
This site in YouTube provides videos on the Protestant Reformation.