To answer this question correctly, students must first explain why this account alone does not provide conclusive evidence about the working conditions of African Americans in New York City at the time. They then must determine whether each of three documents could be used to corroborate the account.
Level: Proficient
Question 1
Student explains why a single account may not provide sufficient evidence to draw conclusions about conditions facing African American workers in NYC at the time.
Question 2
a. Student explains that the source would not corroborate Benwell's account because it describes the conditions facing slaves, which would not be relevant for evaluating the working conditions of free workers in NYC.
b. Student explains that the source would not corroborate Benwell's account because it provides information about military rank during the Civil War rather than civilian working conditions in the 1850s.
c. Student explains that this source could be useful because it contains information about the types of work done by African American workers in NYC near the time of Benwell’s account.
Level: Emergent
Question 1
Student shows some understanding of the limits of using a single account to draw conclusions about working conditions for a large group, but the student does not provide a full explanation.
Question 2
a. Student rejects the account but only provides a partial explanation as to why it would not corroborate Benwell’s account.
b. Student rejects the account but only provides a partial explanation as to why it does not corroborate Benwell’s account.
c. Student correctly notes that the source could corroborate Benwell’s account but provides only a partial explanation as to why.
Level: Basic
Question 1
Student does not identify the limitations of using a single account to draw conclusions about the working conditions of a large group of people.
Question 2
a. Student does not reject the source or provides an unclear explanation.
b. Student does not reject the source or provides an unclear explanation.
c. Student rejects the source or provides an unclear explanation.
