This task asks students whether a claim made on TikTok is accurate. The video claims that archaeologists found a Maya city named Land of the White Jaguar that resisted Spanish rule for over a century. By consulting credible sources, students should determine that the claim is true.
Level: Proficient
Question 1: Student expresses reservations or doubts about the strength of the TikTok account for learning about Maya history since little information can be found out about the person behind the account, and none of it suggests that she is an authoritative source on historical information. This doesn’t mean that the source provides inaccurate information, but without knowing more about the creator’s process for making these videos, we should consult other sources.
Questions 2 & 3: Student says that the video’s claim is true, provides links to strong sources that they consulted to reach their answer, and provides a clear explanation for why the sources are strong.
Level: Emergent
Question 1: Student expresses reservations or doubts about the strength of the TikTok account for learning about Maya history but provides an incomplete explanation.
Questions 2 & 3: Student says that the video’s claim is true and provides links to strong sources, but their response lacks a complete explanation for why the sources are strong.
OR
Student says that the video’s claim is true and provides links to one or more strong sources AND one or more weak sources that they consulted to reach their answer.
Level: Basic
Question 1: Student expresses reservations or doubts about the strength of the TikTok account for learning about Maya history but provides an explanation based on a misconception.
OR
Student states that the TikTok account is a strong source of information for learning about Maya history.
Questions 2 & 3: Student says that the video’s claim is true but provides links to poor sources that they consulted to reach their answer.
OR
Student says that the video’s claim is untrue.