To answer this question correctly, students must see both the strengths and weaknesses of Lewis Hine’s photograph as evidence of the working conditions for children in the Pennsylvania coal mines. For Question 1, students must explain that the photograph is useful because it depicts child workers employed in the mines at the time. For Question 2, students should explain that it is less useful as evidence because Hine was paid by the National Child Labor Committee to take the photograph, which may have influenced how he chose to photograph the children. He may have chosen to portray the children in a way that would further the National Child Labor Committee's efforts to outlaw child labor rather than rather than capture the most accurate possible portrayal of the working conditions.
Level: Proficient
Question 1
Student explains that the photograph is useful evidence because it depicts children employed in the mines at the time.
Question 2
Student explains that the photograph is less useful as evidence because Hine was hired to take the photograph by an organization opposed to child labor, which may have influenced how he chose to portray the children.
Level: Emergent
Question 1
Student sees that the photograph provides some evidence of what conditions were like for children working in the mines but also makes assumptions about the image that go beyond the warrants of the evidence or does not fully explain how the photo could provide useful evidence.
Question 2
Student sees that the photograph has limitations but provides an incomplete explanation about why it is limited as evidence.
Level: Basic
Question 1
Student does not provide a relevant explanation for how the photograph could be used as evidence.
Question 2
Student does not identify or explain the limitations of the photograph as evidence.
