Name: _______________________________________________
Summative Performance Task: Graphic Organizer
Developing American Constitutional Democracy
Research for Your Performance Task
Use this graphic organizer to complete steps 1-3 below.
Research
Question
Did the US Constitution reflect the ideas in the Declaration of Independence?
Step 1: Read and review your sources.
Steps for
Writing a
Research
Paper
Step 2: Consider the evidence and craft your thesis.
Step 3: Consider counterarguments to your thesis.
Step 3: Outline your main points to support your thesis.
Step 4: Create your final product.
Before beginning, review the evaluation criteria for this assessment. These are
the requirements for “Advanced” in all areas. See rubric for more detail.
Evaluation
Criteria
Thesis or Claim
- Completely answers the question
- Establishes a clear, historically defensible argument that is compelling
Argumentation
& Reasoning
- Richly supports the thesis with many accurate historical details, examples,
and evidence
- Makes clear connections between points
- Uses historical evidence to modify, build upon, or corroborate an argument
- Considers counterarguments and defends them with substantial evidence
Using Sources
& Evidence
Historical
Analysis
- Uses direct evidence from a robust number of sources to support the
argument
- Uses a rich variety of sources
- Evaluates sources and their origin, purpose, and value, and describes
limitations
- Moves beyond describing events, people, or sources
- Includes advanced historical analysis (example: explains the relationship
between events, how perspectives on the topic differ, or how an event or
development affected groups differently)
- Demonstrates a complex understanding of the time period
1
Name: _______________________________________________
Step 1: Read and review your sources
Your teacher will tell you where and how to find relevant sources. This may be a library,
internet research, a textbook, printouts, a listserv, or another collection.
Closely read your available sources.
Highlight powerful phrases that help answer the question as you read.
Analyze the source using the organizer below.
Title
URL or
Location
Potential
Source 1
Is it a
primary or
secondary
source?
What makes
this source
relevant?
What
quote is
most
powerful?
What
makes this
credible?
How might
this source
help answer
the question?
Keep it or
abandon it?
Is it a
primary or
secondary
source?
What makes
this source
relevant?
What
quote is
most
powerful?
What
makes this
credible?
How might
this source
help answer
the question?
Keep it or
abandon it?
Is it a
primary or
secondary
source?
What makes
this source
relevant?
What
quote is
most
powerful?
What
makes this
credible?
How might
this source
help answer
the question?
Keep it or
abandon it?
Title
URL or
Location
Potential
Source 2
Title
URL or
Location
Potential
Source 3
2
Name: _______________________________________________
Title
URL or
Location
Potential
Source 4
Is it a
primary or
secondary
source?
What makes
this source
relevant?
What
quote is
most
powerful?
What
makes this
credible?
How might
this source
help answer
the question?
Keep it or
abandon it?
Is it a
primary or
secondary
source?
What makes
this source
relevant?
What
quote is
most
powerful?
What
makes this
credible?
How might
this source
help answer
the question?
Keep it or
abandon it?
Is it a
primary or
secondary
source?
What makes
this source
relevant?
What
quote is
most
powerful?
What
makes this
credible?
How might
this source
help answer
the question?
Keep it or
abandon it?
Is it a
primary or
secondary
source?
What makes
this source
relevant?
What
quote is
most
powerful?
What
makes this
credible?
How might
this source
help answer
the question?
Keep it or
abandon it?
Title
URL or
Location
Potential
Source 5
Title
URL or
Location
Potential
Source 6
Title
URL or
Location
Potential
Source 7
3
Name: _______________________________________________
Step 2: Consider the evidence and craft your thesis.
Review the question.
Brainstorm your thoughts in response to this question, taking the sources and evidence
into account. You could choose to freewrite, create a mind map, or outline your thoughts.
Pause and think. Ask yourself, “How will I answer this question in one strong sentence?”
This is your thesis.
Spend time revising and perfecting your thesis to make it clear and powerful. It helps to
make 2-3 specific points within your thesis. These points will help you create the rest of
your outline.
Question
Did the US Constitution reflect the ideas in the Declaration of Independence?
My
thoughts
(brainstorming)
Thesis
First Draft
Does your thesis fully answer the question?
Check
Yourself
Is your thesis historically defensible and compelling?
Does your thesis make a strong claim that will be supported by 2-3 main
arguments?
Refined
Thesis
4
Name: _______________________________________________
Step 3: Consider counterarguments to your thesis.
Revisit the evidence you examined and identify counterarguments to your thesis.
Summarize the main points from those who would oppose your view.
List the strongest evidence your opposition would use to argue against your thesis.
How would
your
opposition
answer the
question?
Did the US Constitution reflect the ideas in the Declaration of Independence?
Main
Counterarguments
Evidence Your Opposition Would Use
●
Point #1
●
●
Point #2
●
●
Point #3
●
5
Name: _______________________________________________
Step 4: Outline your main points to support your thesis.
Rewrite your thesis, taking time to refine it into a final draft. Consider how to make it as
clear and concise as possible.
Using your thesis, determine 2-3 main supporting arguments that defend your argument.
Review your sources and identify the strongest evidence to use for each point. Include at
least two pieces of evidence for each point.
Thesis
Final Draft
Main Idea Statements
Supporting Evidence (at least 2)
●
Point #1
●
●
Point #2
●
●
Point #3
●
Step 5 Create your final product! Follow the instructions from your teacher closely. And remember
that all strong final products will have a clear thesis that is supported by argumentation and
evidence.
6