Assistance

SCS 224 Weighing the Evidence Short Paper Guidelines and Rubric

On the U.S. National Archives Doc Teach site, you will participate in a “Weighing the Evidence” activity. From the perspective of a social scientist, this experience will allow you to make value assessments on which primary sources are most useful and why.

Prompt: With the theme of “Roles of Women in U.S. Social and Political Life” carefully evaluate the provided sources and place them on the scale from least persuasive to most persuasive, stacking sources as needed. You will encounter various types of primary sources, so keep in mind which mediums are more impactful.

From within the activity, send a confirmation email to the instructor. Then, from within Brightspace, submit a short paper that explains the criteria you used to rank the sources. Provide specific examples of how sources might be used in research. Identify a secondary source that would effectively supplement the primary resources, providing different information.

Explain your reasoning behind the ordering system. Does the medium by which a primary source is presented influence your decision more than the content? Is a primary source’s content all that really matters when presenting information? Sources speak differently to different people, so to help explain your ordering, imagine what type of audience (besides your instructor) would be best suited to accept your arguments.

You will need to select one secondary source that helps to justify your ordering of primary sources in this activity. Since primary sources can be better strengthened through the interpretations, critiques, and comments of secondary sources, it is important to give an example of which type of secondary source would be best and why. Would a publication like an academic journal, scholarly magazine, or encyclopedia best help support these primary sources? Newspaper articles, textbooks, and investigative reporting found on your 24-hour news network also provide examples of secondary source material that could support primary sources.

Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:

 Evaluation (ranking) of primary source

 Use of primary sources  Explanation of secondary source

Guidelines for Submission: The short paper should be one to two pages in length, double-spaced. All citations should be completed using APA format.

Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (85%) Needs Improvement (55%) Not Evident (0%) Value

Evaluation of Primary Source

Meets “Proficient” criteria and uses examples to support ranking of sources

Ranks primary sources based on clearly defined criteria

Ranks primary sources, but criteria are not clearly defined

Does not rank sources 30

Use of Primary Sources

Meets “Proficient” criteria and uses clear and relevant examples to assess why primary sources are useful

Explains potential uses of primary sources using specific details

Explains potential uses of primary sources, but response is inaccurate or lacks detail

Does not explain potential uses of primary sources

30

Explanation of Secondary Source

Meets “Proficient” criteria and uses clear and relevant examples in the explanation of secondary source

Accurately explains secondary source using specific details

Explains secondary source, but assessment may be inaccurate and/or lacks detail

Does not explain secondary source

30

Articulation of Response

Submission is free of errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, and organization, and is presented in a professional and easy-to- read format

Submission has no major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization

Submission has major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that negatively impact readability and articulation of main ideas

Submission has critical errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that prevent understanding of ideas

10

Earned Total 100%