Directions: A critical commentary is a short essay that introduces a historical document. It provides basic information about what the document is, what cultural and historical context influenced its author in creating it, and why you—the historian—believe it was important, convincing, effective, or ineffective. Your commentary will be evaluated on your selection of direct evidence, creativity of interpretation, depth of historical context, and clarity of language.
For each critical commentary, you will write about a primary source document, you will be doing it on http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/17-conquering-the-west/helen-hunt-jackson-on-a-century-of-dishonor-1881/
If you’re having trouble figuring out where to start, the questions and prompts on this historical thinking chart
Rubric & Requirements:
Does the commentary meet the style requirements? 700-900 words, thesis statement, 3 quotations, title
Does the student provide an accurate description of the document that includes relevant details?
Does the commentary explain the document’s relationship to broader issues of the era?
Does the commentary include an evaluation and analysis of the author’s position?
Demonstrate factual and chronologically accurate knowledge of key events, issues, trends, and people of the relevant time period and geographic region, as designated in the Course Outline of Record.
Demonstrate the ability to interpret historical information by applying analytical skills used by historians–such as synthesizing evidence from both primary and secondary sources, comparing and contrasting multiple perspectives, contextualizing information, and/or identifying causes and effects of change and continuity–to the course content.
Demonstrate the value of historical knowledge for understanding more recent and/or comparable issues, events, and trends.