Topic 7:
Document Analysis
Encouraging Perspective Recognition and
Reasoning about Opposing Perspectives
Cold War
Sampling a Cold War Unit
Persistent Issue: What actions are justified when pursuing the
welfare or security of a nation?
Central Question: Was the United States justified in its continued
pursuit of nuclear weapons following the
conclusion of World War II?
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
Grabber
Interactive Slide Lecture
Web Quest
Document Analysis: Cold War Music
Culminating Activity
Cold War Unit
Central Question: Was the United States justified in its continued
pursuit of nuclear weapons following the
conclusion of World War II?
I. Grabber
Was the War in
Iraq justified?
Cold War Unit
Central Question: Was the United States justified in its continued
pursuit of nuclear weapons following the
conclusion of World War II?
II. Interactive Slide Lecture:
Establishing Historical Context
Cold War Unit
Central Question: Was the United States justified in its continued
pursuit of nuclear weapons following the
conclusion of World War II?
III. Web Quest
How did the Cold War
impact the every day
lives of Americans?
Cold War Unit
Central Question: Was the United States justified in its continued
pursuit of nuclear weapons following the
conclusion of World War II?
IV. Document Analysis: Cold War Historical Music
Encouraging students to examine opposing perspectives.
Cold War Unit
Central Question: Was the United States justified in its continued
pursuit of nuclear weapons following the
conclusion of World War II?
V. Culminating Activity
Persuasive Speech: SALT I Treaty Negotiations
Encouraging critical reasoning about an historical issue


Step 1: Scaffolded Synthesis of Multiple Perspectives
Step 2: Individualized Persuasive Speech which
Encourages Dialectical Reasoning
Opponent’s Historical Evidence:
Opponent’s Position on
Whether USA Should
Have Pursued Nuclear
Weapons?
1st Argument Supporting
Their Position
Your Counter Argument w/Evidence:
Opponent’s Historical Evidence:
2nd Argument Supporting
Their Position
Your Counter Argument w/Evidence:
Speech Planning Guide – Outlining Your Speech
Background on Special
Interest Group You
Represent (A Fictional
but Serious Name)
I. Interest Group
Historical Background
on Nuclear Issues That
Provides Context for
Your Argument
II. Historical Context
Your (3) Arguments:
Evidence to Support
Them
III. My Arguments
A.
Opponents (2)
Arguments: Why are
their solutions better
than mine?
My Response to
Opponents Arguments
IV. Opponents Arguments V. My Response
A.
PIH Curriculum Design Principles
1. Scaffolded Instruction
2. Authenticity
3. Multiple Intelligences
4. Effective Collaboration