7th Grade Performance Assessment – World War I Scenario: It is April 2, 1917; you are a United States Congressman. President Woodrow Wilson just made a speech asking Congress to declare war against Germany. You need to help the other congressmen from your state decide if they will vote for or against the declaration of war. You have assembled a collection of data to support the argument you will present to your fellow congressmen, including pictures, maps, documents, and newspaper articles on the war. The time to vote is coming up quickly, so you will have only have 2-3 minutes to convince them that declaring war is either good or bad for the country. Task: Choose one of the following options to explain your response to the scenario above. You will use the attached documents to support your position. This summative assignment is worth 25 points-see rubric next page. Informational Pamphlet – Create a pamphlet that congressmen could use to show their constituents (voters) how entering the war is either good or bad for the country. Propaganda Poster – Create a poster that congressmen could use to show their constituents (voters) how entering the war is either good or bad for the country. This summative assignment is worth 25 points: TASK Use of sources MASTERY I used information from multiple sources to support my point of view. PROGRESSING I used information from a source to support my point of view. BEGINNING I did not use information from sources to support my point of view. 6 points 4 points I demonstrated how each source supported my point of view. I demonstrated how some sources supported my point of view. 4 points I did not show how the sources I chose supported my point of view. 2 points 6 points My ideas are organized and expressed clearly and there are multiple details and historic references. My ideas are expressed clearly, but have few details or historic references to support my position. My ideas are unorganized, and are not supported with details, historical references or examples. 2 points 6 points My product demonstrates an understanding of the factors that had to be considered when deciding whether or not the United States would enter WWI. 6 points 4 points My product demonstrates an understanding that a decision had to be made in Congress on whether or not the United States should enter WWI. 4 points 2 points Explanations of how source supports your point of view Ability to evaluate, illustrate or describe issues Understanding of significant content Name and block on the back 1 point My product demonstrates an understanding that the U.S. decided to enter WWI. 2 points SOURCE #1 Think: What is the president asking Congress to do in this speech? Why does he think it’s the right thing to do? Why does he think this war should be a concern of the United States? “The world must be made safe for democracy…We have no selfish ends to serve. We desire no conquest, no dominion. We seek no indemnities for ourselves, no material compensation for the sacrifices we shall freely make. We are but one of the champions of the rights of mankind…” -President Wilson, from his address to Congress, April 2, 1917 Source #2 Think: What happened to the Lusitania in May 1915? Who was on it? What was on it? Did this event have any effect on Americans? Source #3 Think: Which countries are involved in the war? Which countries are allied with each other? Which side will the U.S. join if Congress declares war on Germany? Why? SOURCE #4 Think: The Zimmermann telegram (February 1917) was sent in code. Who sent it? Who was the intended receiver? What did it say? What did it have to do with the U.S.? How did Americans react? telegram in code translation of coded telegram SOURCE #5 Think: How many soldiers does the U.S. have at the time of President Wilson’s speech in April 1917? How many soldiers do the other countries have? How well prepared is the U.S. to fight a war? What does the U.S. government need to be prepared to do if we declare war on Germany? What will regular Americans need to be willing to do? Military Personnel by Country 1914-1917 14,000,000 12,000,000 10,000,000 8,000,000 6,000,000 4,000,000 2,000,000 0