Washington State
Curriculum Based Assessment [CBA] Links to the National Archives and Records Administration's Primary Documents located at [web]www.ourdocuments.gov
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8th Grade

Enduring Cultures (History)

Student assignment:

In a persuasive paper or presentation, you will:

  1. Explain the challenges members of two cultural groups faced with specific, supported examples.
  2. Explain how members of two cultural groups responded to challenges with specific, supported examples.
  3. Explain significant similarities and/or differences related to challenges and responses to the challenges with specific, supported examples.
  4. Present a plausible position that:
    • is clear,
    • outlines the central challenges and responses, and
    • makes a generalization about the types of challenges members of cultural groups face or the ways members of cultural groups respond to challenges.

Primary source documents from "Our Documents, 100 Milestone Source Documents from the National Archives and Records Administration," relating to this Curriculum Based Assessment [CBA]:

Important notes for using this section:

  • Following each sub-topic is a list representing specific documents that are believed to best illustrate a topic. Each document is linked to an interactive digital copy of the record itself, complete with description, background information, a transcribed copy [for convenience and for students having difficulty reading handwriting] and teaching suggestions, from the "Our Documents" web site [see [web]www.ourdocuments.gov]. Just click on the document title and it will take you to the specific "Our Documents" page.
  • In addition, there is a "Document Only" link which can be used in classrooms with fewer web connections. This is an "Adobe Acrobat" [.pdf] file and can be opened in advance and copied by the instructor or student directly, without a web connection, on any type of computer, as long as Adobe Acrobat is loaded on the computer. For a free copy of the Adobe Acrobat program [web]click here.

Sample Topics and Associated Primary Sources:

African Americans

American Indians

Chinese Americans

Japanese Americans

Associated Washington State Standards {EALR}

  • Social Studies Inquiry and Information Skills 1.1.2f - Create a product that uses social studies content to support findings; present product in an appropriate manner to a meaningful audience.
  • History 1.3.2 - Examine the development of different cultures in Washington State, U.S. and world history.
  • Social Studies Skills 1.1.2d - Recognize relevant facts and ideas in social studies documents: evaluate bias of sources/ authors; classify information as fact/opinion.

Scoring
EALR Scoring
(*for additional levels, see OSPI Scoring Rubric)
Social Studies Inquiry and Information Skills 1.1.2f *at highest level... Presents a plausible position that:
  • is clear,
  • outlines the central challenges and responses, and
  • makes a generalization about the types of challenges members of cultural groups face or how members of cultural groups respond to challenges.
History 1.3.2 *at highest level... Accurately explains the challenges members of two cultural groups faced with at least three specific examples explicitly supported by accurate evidence (including at least one for each group).
AND
Accurately explains how members of two cultural groups responded to challenges with three or more specific examples explicitly supported by accurate evidence (including at least one from each group).
AND
Accurately explains three or more significant similarities and/or differences related to challenges and responses to the challenges supported by specific historical evidence.
Social Studies Skills 1.1.2d *at highest level... Annotated bibliography includes a variety of resources from multiple perspectives. Annotations discuss reliability and credibility and show validity through comparison of resources.
National Archives and Records Administration
6125 Sand Point Way NE
Seattle, WA 98115
http://www.archives.gov/pacific-alaska