Study Guide

Field 079: Cherokee 
Sample Cultural Perspectives, Comparisons, and Connections Assignment

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Test Directions for the Cultural Perspectives, Comparisons, and Connections Assignment

[ start bold Note to examinee: end bold  These test directions are provided here to familiarize you with the directions you will see on the actual test. They may refer to features whose functionality is not enabled in this study guide.]

This section of the test consists of a cultural knowledge assignment. Remember to provide details to support your response.

 start bold Your response may be written in either English or the target language. end bold  This should be your original work, written in your own words, and not copied or paraphrased from some other work. You may use the erasable notebooklet to make notes, write an outline, or otherwise prepare your response. If you choose to respond in English, type your response in the response box presented on-screen. If you choose to respond in the target language, your final response must be written on the response sheet provided. Please label your response sheet with the appropriate assignment (e.g., "Cultural Perspectives, Comparisons, and Connections"). Your response sheet must be scanned using the scanner provided at your workstation.

 start bold Instructions for scanning your response sheet are available by clicking the "Scanning Help" button at the top of the screen. end bold 

Your response to the assignment will be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:

 start bold PURPOSE: end bold   the extent to which the response achieves the purpose of the assignment

 start bold SUBJECT MATTER KNOWLEDGE: end bold   accuracy and appropriateness in the application of subject matter knowledge

 start bold SUPPORT: end bold   quality and relevance of supporting details

 start bold RATIONALE: end bold   soundness of argument and degree of understanding of the subject matter

Any time spent responding to the assignment, including scanning the response sheet(s), is part of your testing time. Monitor your time carefully. When your testing time expires, a pop-up message will appear on-screen indicating the conclusion of your test session. Only response sheets that are scanned before you end your test or before time has expired will be scored. Any response sheet that is not scanned before testing ends will  start uppercase NOT end uppercase  be scored.

Sample Cultural Perspectives, Comparisons, and Connections Assignment

subarea roman numeral 4 
Cultural Perspectives, Comparisons, and Connections

 start bold Use the information below to complete the assignment that follows. end bold 

In the history of every culture, there are certain people whose actions or character significantly influenced that culture. In Cherokee culture, Sequoyah, John Ross, Redbird Smith, Dragging Canoe, John Jolly, and Wilma Mankiller are some of those people.

Using your knowledge of Cherokee society and culture, select one of the six people listed above and write a response in which you:

Remember to provide details to support your response. Your response may be written in either Cherokee or English. If you choose to respond in Cherokee, you may write either in the syllabary or in phonetic script. Within your response, however, you must write consistently either in the syllabary or in phonetic script.

Sample Strong Response to the Cultural Perspectives, Comparisons, and Connections Assignment

 start italics Please note: The sample response provided below is for review purposes only and should not be used in a response on an operational exam. end italics 

Influential historical figure—Redbird Smith

Redbird Smith's main achievement was his work to revive, preserve, and maintain the central values and traditions of Cherokee culture. With the passage of the Dawes Allotment Act, the United States government conducted an enrollment of the Cherokee people for allotting commonly held lands to individual members. Redbird Smith, along with many other Cherokees, resisted the enrollment and the division of their land into individual lots because Cherokee people believe that the land belongs to everyone and should not be divided among individuals.

Redbird Smith understood the importance of maintaining the traditions of Cherokee culture. While many Cherokee accepted the ways of the American government, Redbird Smith, along with other traditional Cherokee people, became known as the Nighthawk Keetowah Society. The council of this traditional society was composed of members from each of the seven Cherokee clans. The Nighthawk Keetowah Society primarily wanted to revive and maintain Cherokee traditions in order to pass them on to their descendants.

Redbird Smith revived the use of the "Sacred Wampum Belts" in which Cherokee laws and symbols of important historical and traditional significance were recorded. He also helped revive religious traditions such as the ceremonial use of the sacred fire.

As the Chief of the Nighthawks, Redbird Smith started traveling to all the different grounds to teach Cherokee traditions. Many of the traditions that Redbird Smith and the Nighthawk Keetowah society revived are still honored today.

In all of these activities, Redbird Smith embodied pride and respect for Cherokee traditions, history, and culture; this sense of pride and respect is a central value of Cherokee society.

Performance Characteristics for the Cultural Perspectives, Comparisons, and Connections Assignment

The following characteristics guide the scoring of responses to the cultural perspectives, comparisons, and connections assignment.

Characteristics that guide the scoring of responses
PURPOSE the extent to which the response achieves the purpose of the assignment
SUBJECT MATTER KNOWLEDGE accuracy and appropriateness in the application of subject matter knowledge
SUPPORT quality and relevance of supporting details
RATIONALE soundness of argument and degree of understanding of the subject matter

Scoring Scale for the Cultural Perspectives, Comparisons, and Connections Assignment

Scores will be assigned to each response to the cultural perspectives, comparisons, and connections assignment according to the following scoring scale.

Score Scale with description for each score point.
Score Point Score Point Description
4  start bold The "4" response reflects a thorough knowledge and understanding of the subject matter. end bold 
  • The purpose of the assignment is fully achieved.
  • There is a substantial, accurate, and appropriate application of subject matter knowledge.
  • The supporting evidence is sound; there are high-quality, relevant examples.
  • The response reflects an ably reasoned, comprehensive understanding of the topic.
3  start bold The "3" response reflects a general knowledge and understanding of the subject matter. end bold 
  • The purpose of the assignment is largely achieved.
  • There is a generally accurate and appropriate application of subject matter knowledge.
  • The supporting evidence generally supports the discussion; there are some relevant examples.
  • The response reflects a general understanding of the topic.
2  start bold The "2" response reflects a partial knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.  end bold 
  • The purpose of the assignment is partially achieved.
  • There is a limited, possibly inaccurate or inappropriate application of subject matter knowledge.
  • The supporting evidence is limited; there are few relevant examples.
  • The response reflects a limited, poorly reasoned understanding of the topic.
1  start bold The "1" response reflects little or no knowledge and understanding of the subject matter. end bold 
  • The purpose of the assignment is not achieved.
  • There is little or no appropriate or accurate application of subject matter knowledge.
  • The supporting evidence, if present, is weak; there are few or no relevant examples.
  • The response reflects little or no reasoning about or understanding of the topic.
U  start bold The response is illegible, not written to the assigned topic, not written in the required language, or of insufficient length to score. end bold 
B  start bold There is no response to the assignment. end bold