Touchstone 1: Case Study Close Reading
ASSIGNMENT: For this Touchstone, you will select a source on a topic in U.S. history to read like a historian. As you learned, doing a close reading means reading the text multiple times, with a different set of questions in mind each time. You will then write and submit answers to a set of close reading questions:Origin and context: Who wrote this text? When did they write it? What do I know about the events being discussed?
Meaning: What is the author’s main idea? What is the text generally about?
Argument: What is the author’s point of view? Are they trying to convince the reader of something? What evidence do they use to support their argument?
Skills: Is there evidence in the text of agility or problem solving skills being used? In what way(s)?
This Touchstone provides an opportunity for you to delve more deeply into a topic in U.S. history and practice thinking like a historian. It will also prepare you for later Touchstones, which ask you to research a historical question and create a presentation to help others understand how historical events can be applied to current issues. Lastly, it will develop your problem solving skills, because being a critical reader helps you to obtain and evaluate the information you need to solve problems.
Use the Touchstone template below to write answers to the close reading questions as you read. When you have finished, you will submit this template to move onto the next unit.
Touchstone 1 Template
A. Directions
Select a case study from the list below:
TopicCase Study Article
Agriculture and Social ChangeCommercialization and Discontent on the American Farm: The Farmer’s Movements of the Late-19th and Early-20th Centuries
Civil Rights and WWIIThe Double Victory Campaign and the Black Press: A Conservative Approach to ‘Victory’ at Home and Abroad
Civil Rights and WomenTitle IX and the Gender Binary: Trajectories of Equality
Media and CommunicationsThe American Military and the Press: From Vietnam to Iraq
Read the case study in its entirety. To enhance your understanding, be sure to look up any terms or events in the text that you may be unfamiliar with. Re-read the text as you answer the close reading questions in the Touchstone template.
Refer to the list below throughout the writing process. Do not submit your Touchstone until it meets these guidelines.
1. Origin and context
❒ Have you identified who wrote the text and when? Is he or she qualified to speak on the topic?
❒ Have you identified the events being discussed?
2. Meaning
❒ Have you identified the author’s main idea?
❒ Have you described what the text is generally about?
3. Argument
❒ Have you identified the author’s point of view? Are they trying to convince the reader of something?
❒ Have you identified the evidence used to support the argument?
4. Skills
❒ Have you explained ways in which agility or problem solving skills are being used?
B. Rubric
Advanced (100%)Proficient (80%)Needs Improvement (60%)Non-Performance (0%)
Origin and Context (10 points)
Student identifies the source’s origin and context.Accurately identifies the author and date of the source, and at least 3 events being discussed.Accurately identifies the author and date of the source, and at least 2 events being discussed.Identifies the author and date of the source and at least 1 event being discussed, and may include inaccuracies.Does not attempt to identify the author or date of the source, or any events being discussed.
Meaning (10 points)
Student identifies and describes the source’s main idea.
Accurately identifies the main idea of the source and provides a clear description of what the source is about.Accurately Identifies the main idea of the source, but the description may be less clear.Attempts to identify the main idea of the source, but the main idea and/or description may be unclear or inaccurate.Does not attempt to identify the main idea of the source or what the source is about.
Argument (10 points)
Source is examined for elements of argument.
Identifies the author’s point of view and identifies at least 2 examples of evidence used to support the argument.Identifies the author’s point of view and identifies at least 1 example of evidence used to support the argument.Attempts to identify the author’s point of view, but the point of view and/or description of the argument may be unclear or inaccurate. An example of evidence used to support the argument may or may not be identified.Does not attempt to identify the author’s point of view or any evidence used to support the argument.
Skills (10 points)
Source is examined for evidence of agility or problem solving skills.
Identifies and explains 2 examples of how agility or problem-solving skills are displayed in the article, using specific details.Identifies and explains at least 1 example of how agility or problem-solving skills are displayed in the article.Identifies, but does not explain, an example of how agility or problem-solving skills are displayed in the article.Does not attempt to identify how agility or problem-solving skills are displayed in the article.
Conventions (10 points)
Essay follows conventions for standard written English.
There are one or no errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization.There are minor errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization that do not impede readability.There are frequent errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization that impede readability.There are consistent errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization that significantly impede readability.
C. Requirements
The following requirements must be met for your submission:
Use a readable 12-point font.
Write 3 to 4 complete sentences for every cell in the template.
All writing must be appropriate for an academic context.
Composition must be original and written for this assignment.
Plagiarism of any kind is strictly prohibited.
Submission must include your name and the date.
Include all of the assignment components in a single file.
Acceptable file formats include .doc and .docx.
