Handout 4- Critical Reading and Writing Assessment
You Be the Historian
History tells us what happened. It's up to you to decide what it means.
Choose one of the four questions below to answer in a short paragraph.
1. Did Lincoln's views change over time?
2. Did Lincoln stay true to the principles stated in the Declaration of Independence?
3. Could Lincoln have prevented a Civil War?
4. Was the United States at the time of the Civil War pro or against slavery?
Paragraph Writing Guide:
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Begin the paragraph with a statement of belief. Ex: I believe Lincoln's views changed over time or
I believe Lincoln's views did not change over time.
Use Lincoln's words from at least two speeches as evidence to support your claim. Put those words in
quotation marks.
Explain why you choose the parts of the speeches that you did to back up your point of view.
Turn in evidence notes (handout 5)
Scoring Rubric (Teacher assigns values)
Grading
Criteria
Expert
(above expectation)
Knows Stuff
(meets expectation)
Weak Argument
(below expectation)
Historian
Opinion stated clearly.
Opinion supported by two
quotes from Lincoln's
speeches.
Supports are connected to
the argument.
Opinion stated clearly.
Opinion supported by two
quotes from Lincoln' s
speeches.
Opinion stated.
No support or quotes from
speeches.
Writer
Sentences are complete.
Sentences are correct.
Student revises writing
frame successfully.
Quotes are explained.
Argument is persuasive
Sentences are complete.
Mechanics and spelling show
strong editing.
Student follows writing frame.
Argument is understandable.
Sentences are incomplete.
Writing shows weak
editing.
Argument is weak.
Student omits sections of
writing frame.
Evidence
(Handout 5)
Name of speech is correct.
Speeches are summarized
in student's own words.
Quotes from speeches
support inquiry positions.
Name of speech is correct.
Speech summaries are taken
from notes.
Quotes from speeches are
important to remember.
Name of speech is correct.
Student struggles to show
understanding of what
Lincoln says.
Writing Frame
I believe [write in one of the inquiry statements as a position of belief] _________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________.
In Lincoln's speech [name]____________________________________________________________________
from [date]_____________________________, Lincoln says [quote from Lincoln's speech] "_______________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________."
I believe Lincoln said this because _____________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________.
A second quote that supports my position is from [name of speech]___________________________________
________________________________________________________from [date]________________________.
I believe Lincoln said this because_____________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________.
In conclusion, these two quotes together support my opinion that [restate position]_______________________
___________________________________________________________________________because _______
_________________________________________________________________________________________.