To answer this question correctly, students must see both the strengths and weaknesses of a photograph commissioned by W. E. B. Du Bois as evidence of the lives of African Americans at the turn of the 20th century. For Question 1, students must explain that the photograph is useful because it depicts an African American family at the time in question. For Question 2, students should understand that the photograph was not candid. It was a posed photograph that Du Bois took to sway public opinion, so it may not have been representative evidence of African Americans’ lives at the time.
Level: Proficient
Question 1
Student explains that the photograph is useful evidence in that it depicts African Americans at the time.
Question 2
Student explains that the photograph is less useful as evidence because it was not a candid image. Du Bois commissioned the photograph to make a particular argument, so it may not be representative evidence of the past.
Level: Emergent
Question 1
Student sees that the photograph provides some evidence of the lives of African Americans at the time 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.
