To answer this question correctly, students must select Fact 2 and Fact 3 and explain why each might lead them to question the reliability of the committee’s report as evidence of whether President Reagan knew about the diversion of funds to the Contras while it was happening. Fact 2 reveals that all six of the committee members who signed the report were Republicans, even though the committee was majority Democrat. This raises questions about whether the committee members framed the report to protect the Republican president, either because they wanted to believe the president was innocent or to gain political advantage for their party. Fact 3 reveals that an alternative report was signed by a larger, bipartisan group of committee members, which suggests that the committee report in question was contested by a majority of committee members.
Level: Proficient
Student selects a correct fact and explains how it casts doubt on the reliability of the document.
Level: Emergent
Student selects a correct fact but does not provide an adequate or complete explanation of how it would lead them to question the reliability of the document.
Level: Basic
Student does not select a correct fact or selects a correct fact but does not provide a relevant explanation.
