World History, Grades 9-12

SKILLBUILDERHANDBOOKR9

2.1 Categorizing

CATEGORIZING means organizing similar kinds of information into groups. Historians

categorize information to help them identify and understand historical patterns.

Understanding the Skill

STRATEGY: DECIDE WHAT INFORMATION NEEDS TO BE CATEGORIZED.The

following passage describes India’s Taj Mahal, a memorial built by a Mughal

ruler. As you read, look for facts and details that are closely related. Then choose

appropriate categories.

STRATEGY: MAKE A CHART.

Applying the Skill

MAKE YOUR OWN CHART. Turn to Chapter 22, page 637. Read “New Artistic

Styles.” Decide what categories you will use to organize the information. Then make

a chart, like the one above, that organizes the information in the passage into the

categories you have chosen.

Section 2: Higher-Order Critical Thinking

Look at topic sentences for

clues to defining categories.

Look at the type of informa-

tion each paragraph contains.

A paragraph often contains similar

kinds of information.

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Add a title.

Sort information into the

categories you have chosen.

Make one column for each

category.

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Building the Taj Mahal

Some 20,000 workers labored for 22 years to build the famous tomb. It is made of white

marble brought from 250 miles away. The minaret towers are about 130 feet high. The building

itself is 186 feet square.

The design of the building is a blend of Hindu and Muslim styles. The pointed arches are

of Muslim design, and the perforated marble windows and doors are typical of a style found

in Hindu temples.

The inside of the building is a glittering garden of thousands of carved marble flowers inlaid

with tiny precious stones. One tiny flower, one inch square, had 60 different inlays.

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22

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• 20,000 workers


• 22 years to complete
  
  
  • Minaret towers: 130
    feet high
  
  
  • Building: 186 feet
    
    
    • Made of white marble
    
    
    • Pointed arches (Muslim
      influence)
    
    
    • Perforated marble
      windows and doors
      (Hindu influence)
    
    
    • Interior: thousands of
      carved marble flowers
      inlaid with precious stones
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  

Labor Dimensions Design features

THE TAJ MAHAL

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