The third supporting question, “In what ways did construction of railroads affect Native Americans, farmers, and other landowners?” helps students use sources to unwrap the context of the time and topic being examined. Complete the following task using the sources provided to build a context of the time period and topic being examined.
Formative Performance Task 3
Use the information from Featured Sources A-B, the graphic organizers from the first two supporting questions, and additional research from library and internet sources as needed, to write a summary of how the railroads affected the people who either moved to the region or who already lived there.
Featured Sources 3
Read featured sources A-B. In a group or as a class, answer the following questions: 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 | |
| Source B |
Hudson, John. “Frontier Housing In North Dakota.” North Dakota History Vol. 42.4:4-15 (1975). |