The fourth supporting question, “how did women influence agriculture in North Dakota prior to 1900?” helps students become familiar with using secondary sources. Secondary sources are accounts or interpretations of historical events, people, places, and ideas by someone who does not necessarily have firsthand experience of the subject. This is what historians and other researchers have written about primary sources and the events, ideas, and people of history. When students read secondary sources, they should explore the evidence through additional sources, including primary sources, to get an accurate understanding of the context and if the author wrote a valid, accurate, and thoughtful interpretation. Complete the following task using the sources provided to build a context of the time period and topic being examined.
Formative Performance Task 4
Read the featured source A, “The ‘Main Stay”: Women’s Productive Work on Pioneer Farms” by Barbara Handy-Marchello. What is author’s historical argument or thesis statement? What does the source tell us about farming during the late 1800s? What else can you find? Using the SHSND Photobook, create a graphic organizer that features primary sources that either support or refute the author’s claim.
Featured Sources 4: The “Main Stay:” Women’s Productive Work on Pioneer Farms
The source featured below is a secondary source. Secondary sources are accounts or interpretations of historical events, people, places, and ideas by someone who does not necessarily have firsthand experience of the subject. This is the material that historians and other researchers have written about primary sources and the events, ideas, and people of history. These are the products of historical work including exhibits, websites, documentaries, performances, books, and other publications. When students read or view secondary sources, they should pay careful attention to the bibliography. What sources did the author use? Are they reliable evidence to support their claims? When students read or view secondary sources, they should also explore additional sources, including primary sources, to get an accurate understanding of the context and if the author wrote a valid, accurate, and thoughtful interpretation. What is the author’s historical argument, or thesis statement? Are their claims logical and supported by evidence? Further research of materials and sources can either prove or disprove the students’ argument.
| Source A |