In this task, students are presented with a social media post that claims a photograph shows federal agents arresting an immigrant during the Palmer Raids.
Although the image is compelling and claims to depict civil rights abuses for which there is significant historical evidence, successful students will argue that this specific photograph does not provide strong evidence of the past. Students may question the source of the post, arguing that we know nothing about the credentials of the person who posted this photo (especially since it appears on a site where anyone can upload a photo). Alternatively, students may point out that the post provides no proof that the picture is authentic.
Level: Proficient
Student argues the post does not provide strong evidence and questions the source of the post (e.g., we don’t know anything about the author of the post) and/or the source of the photograph (e.g., we don’t know if the photograph is authentic).
Level: Emergent
Student argues that the post does not provide strong evidence, but the explanation does not consider the source of the post or the source of the photograph, or the explanation is incomplete.
Level: Basic
Student argues that the post provides strong evidence or uses incorrect or incoherent reasoning.