Document Based Question Essay: The Columbian Exchange

Category

Scoring Criteria

Scoring Notes

Targeted Skill

Thesis and Argument

1 Point

The essay clearly states a thesis that directly addresses all parts of the question. It must do more than restate the question. The thesis must be accurate and historically defensible, and needs to include one or more sentences within the essay's introduction and/or the essay's conclusion.

1 Point

The essay must include a historically-plausible and consistent argument. The essay's argument should clearly demonstrate the complexities inherent in analyzing historical evidence and acknowledge the potential for inconsistencies.

The introduction and/or the conclusion of the essay may be more than a single paragraph.

Argumentation

(Historical Thinking Skill Proficiencies E1, E4, and C1)

Analysis of Documents

2 Points

1 Point

The essay clearly supports its thesis using evidence from at least six of the documents.

1 Point

The essay clearly explains the significance of the following for at least four of the documents:

· Point of view of the author

· Purpose of the author

· Historical context

· Intended audience

n/a

Analyzing Evidence: Content and Sourcing, and Argumentation

(Historical Thinking Skill Proficiencies A1, A2, and E2)

Contextualization

1 point

The essay accurately and explicitly connects historical phenomena relevant to the argument to broader historical events and/or processes.

Earning a point for contextualization requires going beyond the documents themselves to place the essay's thesis in wider historical context with more than just a passing reference. The essay should explain the historical context with multiple sentences or a full paragraph.

Contextualization and Argumentation

(Historical Thinking Skill Proficiencies C3 and E3)

Evidence Beyond the Documents

1 point

The essay gives an example of historical source or other evidence not included within the documents that might strengthen or weaken the thesis.

The outside source or evidence must be different than that used to earn points in other categories in this rubric. The outside source or evidence should be cited by more than just a passing reference, but should include multiple sentences or a full paragraph.

Contextualization and Argumentation

(Historical Thinking Skill Proficiencies C3 and E3)

Synthesis

1 point

The essay appropriately extends or modifies the stated thesis or argument by clearly stating the links between the thesis and either:

· A historical reality from a different time or place.

· A type of historical analysis that is not the focus of the essay, such as political history, or social history.

· A different discipline or area of academic study, such as sociology, economics, or anthropology.

The synthesis should be described with more than just a passing reference, but should include multiple sentences or a full paragraph.

Synthesis

(Historical Thinking Skill Proficiencies C4, C5, or C6)