To answer this question correctly, students must first explain why this newspaper account alone does not provide conclusive evidence about American attitudes toward expansion at the time. They then must determine whether each of three documents could be used to corroborate the newspaper account.
Level: Proficient
Question 1
Student explains why a single editorial may not represent American public opinion at the time.
Question 2
a. Student rejects the source and explains that the political figure was not American and therefore does not represent American public opinion.
b. Student rejects the source because it does not reflect the anti-expansion sentiment of the Nebraska City newspaper.
c. Student explains that this would be a useful source because it matches the sentiments of the Nebraska City editorial and was written by a large group of Americans.
Level: Emergent
Question 1
Student shows some understanding of the limits of using a single editorial to gauge American public opinion at the time. However, the student does not provide a full explanation.
Question 2
a. Student rejects the source but only provides a partial explanation as to why it would not support the editorial.
b. Student rejects the article but only provides a partial explanation as to why it does not support the editorial.
c. Student correctly notes that the source would support the Nebraska City editorial but provides only a partial explanation as to why.
Level: Basic
Question 1
Student does not identify the limitations of using a single editorial to gauge the public opinion of the entire United States.
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 sources or provides an unclear explanation.
