To answer this question correctly, students must see both the strengths and weaknesses of Dorothea Lange's iconic Migrant Mother photograph as evidence of the living conditions of migrant workers during the Great Depression. For Question 1, students must explain that the photograph is useful because it depicts migrant farm workers at the time. For Question 2, students must explain that the fact that Lange was paid by the Resettlement Administration to take this photograph makes it less useful as evidence.
Level: Proficient
Question 1
Student explains that the photograph is useful evidence in that it depicts migrant workers at the time.
Question 2
Student explains that the photograph is less useful as evidence because Lange was paid to photograph migrant workers by the Resettlement Administration, which calls into question whether the photograph was candid.
Level: Emergent
Question 1
Student sees that the photograph provides some evidence of the living conditions of migrant workers but makes assumptions about the photograph that go beyond the warrants of the evidence or does not fully explain how the photograph could provide useful evidence.
Question 2
Student sees that the source has limitations but provides an incomplete explanation about why the source is less useful as evidence.
Level: Basic
Question 1
Student does not provide a relevant explanation for how the source could be useful as evidence.
Question 2
Student does not identify or explain the limitations of the source as evidence.
