Yaqui Land

To answer this question correctly, students must see both the strengths and weaknesses of a Sonora and Sinaloa Irrigation Company pamphlet as evidence of what Yaqui land was like in the 1890s. For Question 1, students must explain that the pamphlet is useful because it shows how Yaqui land was being advertised to American investors, and it is reasonable to believe that the author, the Sonora and Sinaloa Irrigation Company, was knowledgeable about the condition of the land that they were marketing. For Question 2, students should explain that the fact that the Sonora and Sinaloa Irrigation Company used the pamphlet for advertising means its content may have been embellished or even misleading and is therefore less useful as evidence of what Yaqui land was like in the 1890s.

Level: Proficient

Question 1: Student explains that the pamphlet may be useful evidence because it shows how Yaqui land was being advertised to American investors, OR student explains that it is reasonable to believe that the author was knowledgeable about the condition of the land that they were marketing.

Question 2: Student explains that the pamphlet is less useful as evidence because the Sonora and Sinaloa Irrigation Company may have been motivated to embellish or mislead potential investors in order to sell shares of their land stock.

Level: Emergent

Question 1: Student sees that the pamphlet provides some evidence of how Yaqui land was being advertised OR that the author was likely knowledgeable about the condition of the land but makes assumptions about the pamphlet that go beyond the warrants of the evidence or does not fully explain how the pamphlet could provide useful evidence.

Question 2: Student sees that the pamphlet has limitations but provides an incomplete explanation about why the pamphlet is less useful as evidence.