Global Citizenship and Service 

  Grade 9 Dr Dangerfield 

Preventing inequality and poverty 

The causes of inequality and poverty are multiple, complex, and contestable given the interconnectedness of 
systems, communities and processes.  
 
A comparison of relative poverty 

The task: 

You will read the article “The mountain man and the surgeon: reflections on relative poverty in America and 
Africa” in order to grasp the key points the author makes, the questions he raises and the conclusions he draws 
about the issue. You will then answer the “W” questions - a set of questions you can apply to all non-fiction texts 
you read. Your answers will be assessed on Criterion A: Knowledge.  

Instructions: 

After reading the article, answer the following “W” questions: 

● Who wrote/published the text?​ What qualifications does the author have to make them reliable? 
How reliable is the publication? Are there any possible sources of bias that might affect what the author/ 
publication says and which you should be aware of? 
● What is the central idea of the text?​ You should be able to state this in one or two sentences. 
● What important points or conclusions does the text make?​ Often, but not always, you might find 
these as the topic sentences of paragraphs. You may note these by highlighting important sections in the 
text and by making brief notes in the margins. If nearly every paragraph contains an important conclusion 
or point, it may help to ask yourself “What is this paragraph about?” 
● How does the author arrive at the conclusion you found?​ What evidence does the author use to 
support the conclusions? Sometimes the author may not use evidence but rely on their expertise to 
support what they are saying (often the case with textbooks). If this is the case, write it down.  
● What questions do you have after reading the text?​ This can be the most interesting part! 
 
Assessment criteria 

Leve Task specific clarification: A - Knowledge ​(level 0 - you do not reach any standard described) 
l 

1-2  I. You use ​limited​ relevant terminology when answering the W questions 
Ii. You demonstrate ​basic ​knowledge and understanding of content and concepts of a non-fiction text with 
minimal​ responses to W questions 

3-4  I. You use ​some ​terminology​ accurately​ and​ appropriately ​when answering the W questions 
Ii. You demonstrate​ adequate​ knowledge and understanding of content and concepts of a non-fiction text through 
satisfactory​ responses to W questions 

5-6  I. You use a​ range​ of terminology ​accurately​ and​ appropriately ​when answering the W questions 
Ii. You demonstrate​ substantial​ knowledge and understanding of content and concepts of a non-fiction text 
through​ accurate​ responses to W questions 

7-8  I. You​ consistently​ use a​ wide range​ of terminology​ effectively ​when answering the W questions 
Ii You demonstrate​ excellent​ knowledge and understanding of content and concepts of a non-fiction text through 
thorough, accurate​ responses to W questions