Common Core Writing Task #1. Why did the Black Plague kill so many people?

Question: Why did the Black Plague kill so many people?

Read and analyze the following resources before you begin the writing task.

Video

Horrible Histories: Plague Song and Pied Piper Parody

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CVDIHrIQjo

Text

Histroy Alive! Section 5.3, The Bubonic Plague

Images

The Spread of the Black Death

 http://plaza.ufl.edu/wlclapp/The%20Spread%20of%20Black%20Death_files/image001.jpg

Note:  The heavy red lines with arrows show the spread of the Black Death. the faint lines show trade routes.

Article

“Study Shows Black Death Did Not Kill Indiscriminately”

http://in.reuters.com/article/2008/01/28/idINIndia-31640820080128

Task: After reading the articles and text and examining the map above, write a long paragraph that addresses the question and analyzes the reasons why the Black Plague killed so many people providing examples to clarify your analysis. What conclusions or implications can you draw?  BE sure to support your position with evidence from the resources.  Make sure you cite the above resources to support your answer. L2 In your discussion, address the credibility and origin of sources in view of your topic.