Writing Instructions and Practices
WHICH QUESTION TO WRITE ABOUT?
Download 0.79 Mb.
|
- Navigate this page:
- MAKING INFERENCES FROM DOCUMENTS
WHICH QUESTION TO WRITE ABOUT?A subtle but important challenge is selecting a question or facet of a question about which to write if there is a choice. Many times there are several topics within these questions from which a selection must be made to support a position. Thus, choice abounds in each of the free responses. Moreover, there are only about 30 minutes available to write each essay, so choices must be made quickly. One direct strategy in choosing a question or parts of a question is to make lists. Look at the choices and write down all the relevant information about each question as quickly as possible. Make sure, however, that the ideas and facts are within the time frame under investigation. For example, if the question is about slavery in the eighteenth century, don’t put down information about the abolitionists or the Missouri Compromise. Once a list is made determine which list is longer and more specific and write an answer to that question. Use the same strategy when working with questions that offer choices from several facets of a topic. Look at each aspect of the question, list what is known about each and those categories with longest and most specific information to support an argument should used to support the arguments. Study the two examples to see how this strategy can be employed. Part A Choose ONE statement from this part: 1. The political parties of the 1790s grew from unresolved issues of the sovereignty and economics in the 1780s. Assess the validity of this statement. 2. The Articles of Confederation developed an effective Indian policy in the 1780s. Assess the validity of this statement.
It is clear from the two lists that more is known about Essay 1 than Essay 2, as that list is longer an more specific. There is only a vague idea about how the Confederation dealt with Indians. The stronger essay would be on the first question. Part B Look at the following statement, which gives choices within the question. The Articles of Confederation provided inadequate solutions to the antion’s problems in the 1780s. Assess the validity of this statement considering TWO of the following: Foreign Policy Domestic Trade Monetary Policy
Looking at the lists it is clear that if Foreign Policy and Domestic Trade Policy are used a stronger essay will be written than if monetary policy is used. While there is some understanding of financial conditions there is a greater understanding of foreign relations and trade policy. Practice Part A
Below is a set of prompts. Make a list of relevant facts and ideas about each one. Decide which prompt would be selected for the strongest essay answer. After completing the lists, discuss choices with classmates. 1. “The most glaring weakness of the Constitution was its failure to protect individual rights.” 2. American foreign policy under George Washington was a defensive reaction to events and threats from abroad.” Assess the validity of ONE of these two statements: Essay 1:________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Essay 2: :________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Best essay choice is _____________________________________ Part B Examine the following essay prompt and list the relevant facts of the issue. After looking at the various lists, decide the two areas to use in assessing the statement. “The governmental philosophy of the Washington Administration was revealed by its exercise of power.” Assess the validity of this statement by considering TWP of the following: The Whiskey Rebellion The establishment of the national bank Jay’s Treaty
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ National Bank: ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Jay’s Treaty: ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The best two categories are _________________________________ MAKING INFERENCES FROM DOCUMENTSEarlier the focus was on finding the meaning of documents. The four Ws method was used for analyzing sources, a system that identified specific information found in a document. A next step is to add a fifth W to the process—the “why” behind the text. To do this inferences must be made about the material by establishing connections between what is stated and what is left unstated in a source. An inference is an educated guess based on information provided. To formulate an inference, go beyond the information given and suggest ideas about the author’s possible motives and values. These hypotheses are grounded in the text but are not explicitly stated there. Look for implications in the document and place them in a larger context. This is an important skill because it allows students to use documents in a sophisticated and complex manner. An inference demonstrates in-depth thinking about the source. Rather than simply reporting its content, it shows applications, analysis, and evaluations of the document that demonstrate a deeper understanding of a historical problem. Examine the following document and review the possible inferences that could be made about it. Notice that while the ideas are based on the source, they are not explicitly stated within it. 1. Congress shall appoint a governor, a secretary and three judges for the Northwest Territory. These officials shall adopt suitable laws form the original states. When the territory has 5,000 free male inhabitants of full age they shall be allowed to elect representatives. 2. The inhabitants shall be entitled to the benefits of trial by jury and other judicial proceedings according to the common law. 3. Religion, morality and knowledge being necessary to good government and happiness of mankind, schools…shall be encouraged. 5. There shall be neither slavery, nor involuntary servitude in the said territories, otherwise than in the punishment of crimes were of the party shall have been duly convicted. --Northwest Ordinance, 1787
A. The nation was expanding. B. Americans wanted written rules of government. C. Statements of rights had political importance. D. Women did not count politically. E. Education was important. F. Concerns about slavery existed.
Below is a document about the Alien and Sedition Acts. Read it and make a list of inferences that are suggested by the text. The Alien Law has been bitterly criticized as a direct attack upon our liberties. In fact, it affects only foreigners who are plotting against us, and has nothing to do with American citizens. It gives authority to the President to order out of the country all aliens he judges dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States, or whom he suspects of treason or secret pots against the government… The Sedition Act has likewise been wrongly criticized as an attack, upon freedom of speech and press. On the contrary, it allows punishment only for disturbers of order “who write, print, utter or publish and false, scandalous and malicious writings against the government of the United States, or either house of Congress…or the President…” What honest person can justly be alarmed at such a law? Who can wish that unlimited permission be given to publish dangerous lies…?Because we have the right to speak and publish our opinions, does not necessarily follow that we mamy use it to utter lies about our neighbor or government. After all, freedom of action does not give us the right to knock down the first person we meet and excuse ourselves from punishment by leading that we are free persons… --from The Life of Timothy Pickering, 1873 Inferences A. _____________________________________________________________________________ B. _____________________________________________________________________________ C. _____________________________________________________________________________ D. _____________________________________________________________________________ E. _____________________________________________________________________________ F. _____________________________________________________________________________ G. _____________________________________________________________________________ H. _____________________________________________________________________________
Directory: file -> view view -> Western Europe after wwii view -> Author study: paul fleischman view -> Qpa1 7ela study Guide view -> Arctic Oil/Gas Neg view -> November 1970 Approximately 150,000-500,000 deaths Bhola Cyclone Bangladesh view -> Grade Level: 6 Unit of Study: Caribbean glce view -> Citation: Duffield, Katy view -> Table of Contents Lesson # view -> Chinese Wind Energy Disad Download 0.79 Mb. Share with your friends:
|