1. Increasing Rigor in the Social Studies Classroom with Common Core
Research to Build and Present Knowledge (Grades 6-12)
Text Types and Purposes (Grades 6-12)
Key Ideas and Details (Grades 6-12)
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas (Grades 6-12)
Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity (Grades 6-12)

2. Addressing Common Core…
Research to Build and Present Knowledge (Grades 6-12)
Text Types and Purposes (Grades 6-12)
Key Ideas and Details (Grades 6-12)
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas (Grades 6-12)
Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity (Grades 6-12)

3. Addressing Common Core…
Key Ideas and Details
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of the source distinct from prior knowledge or opinions.
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH Integrate visual information (e.g., in charts, graphs, photographs, videos, or maps) with other information in print and digital texts.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH Distinguish among fact, opinion, and reasoned judgment in a text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH Analyze the relationship between a primary and secondary source on the same topic.
Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH By the end of grade s 6-8, read and comprehend history/social studies texts in the grades 6–8 text complexity band independently and proficiently.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources, attending to such features as the date and origin of the information.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of how key events or ideas develop over the course of the text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH By the end of grade 10, read and comprehend history/social studies texts in the grades 9–10 text complexity band independently and proficiently.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources, connecting insights gained from specific details to an understanding of the text as a whole.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary that makes clear the relationships among the key details and ideas.

4. Rigor, Rigor! What is Rigor?
Rigor, We hear it all the time!
What is Rigor?

5. Defining Rigor & What it looks like
Academic rigor can be defined as the set of standards we set for our students and the expectations we have for our students and ourselves.
Rigor includes our basic philosophy of learning – we expect our students to demonstrate not only content mastery, but applied skills and critical thinking about the disciplines being taught.
Rigor also means that we expect much from ourselves, our colleagues, and our institutions of learning.

6. Outcomes of Rigor
Clear expectations define what students should know and be able to do.
Higher test scores.
Improved writing skills.
Attaining the benchmarks at each grade level.
Utilizing higher ordered thinking skills.

7. Rigor in the Classroom
Develop a set of best management practices for promoting academic excellence through rigor in the classroom.
Develop strategies for establishing instructional goals for academic excellence and for documenting progress toward these goals.
Assess our current understanding of rigor in the classroom.

8. Components of Rigor
-Assists students in fulfilling predetermined outcomes and competencies by challenging them with high expectations.
-Essential components of rigor in the classroom:
Content acquisition
Critical thinking
Relevance
Integration
Application of concepts
Long term retention
Responsibility

9. Brainstorming!
What strategies do you use with your students to analyze the following:
Textbooks
Poems
Documents
Speeches
Lyrics
Readings

10. Introduction to SOAPStonE!
What is SOAPSTonE?
A strategy that can be used to analyze speeches, letters, political cartoons, posters, photos, artist representations, or almost ANY other primary source.
It will help the student build skills in:
Developing arguments
Analyzing points of view
The situation/context
Bias
Change over time
The overall goal is to help the student better understand the time period and people of it by examining their points of view and drawing connections between all of them.
Source: The College Board

11. Part of SOAPSTonE includes:
Strategy questions addressing:
Speaker
Occasion
Audience
Purpose
Subject
Tone
Evidence (new one!)

12. Who is the Speaker?
Remember that it is not enough simply to name the speaker. What can you say about the speaker based on references to the text?
Identifying the speaker’s values, biases and beliefs.
Can the speaker be trusted?

13. What is the Occasion?
Discuss and record both the larger occasion, that is, those issues or ideas that must have made the speaker think about this issue, as well as the immediate occasion.
What specific set of circumstances prompted the writer to write?

14. Who is the Audience?
At whom is the text directed? It’s not enough to say, “Anyone who reads it.” You will want to identify a certain audience by describing some of its characteristics.
Who will hear or read the message?
Is the audience open to the message?
What are this audience’s biases/values?

15. What is the Purpose?
The purpose could be a personal one, decide what the message is and how the author wants this audience to respond.
What is the main purpose (argument)?
Why was the document produced?
What “change” do they want to accomplish?

16. What is the Subject? What is the focus of the piece?
What is the topic of this text?
What is this work about?
What is the main topic of the document?

17. What is the Tone?
Try to choose a description of the tone that fits the piece as a whole. Include specific words or phrases from the text and explain how they support your statement.
What feeling or attitude does the document express?
What is the author’s attitude and what emotions do they rely upon within their argument?

18. What is Evidence? (new one)
What evidence does the speaker give to prove his/her argument?
(Taking it to the next level, step!!!)
Use this stem sentence: “To prove the idea that _______, the speaker (says, points out, shows, etc. ) _____________________.

19. Can SOAPSTonE be used for this?

20. Republican Party – 1860 Abraham Lincoln

21. Northern Democratic Party – 1860 Stephen A. Douglas

22. Southern Democratic Party – 1860 John C. Breckinridge

23. Constitutional / Whig Party – 1860 John Bell

24. Benchmarks Connection to Pacing Guide – Middle School
7TH GRADE – CIVICS - 2nd Nine Weeks Grading Period
Content Benchmarks:
SS.7.C.2.9: Evaluate candidates for political office by analyzing their qualifications, experience, issue-based platforms, debates, and political ads.
8th GRADE – US HISTORY – 4th Nine Weeks Grading Period
SS.8.A.5.1 Explain the causes, course, and consequence of the Civil War (sectionalism, slavery, states' rights, balance of power in the Senate).
SS.8.A.5.4 Identify the division (Confederate and Union States, Border states, western territories) of the United States at the outbreak of the Civil War.
SS.8.A.1.6 Compare interpretations of key events and issues throughout American History.

25. Benchmarks Connection to Pacing Guide – High School
11TH GRADE – US History – 1st Nine Weeks Grading Period
Content Benchmarks:
SS.912.A.2.1: Review the causes and consequences of the Civil War. (Tested Benchmark)
Skill Benchmarks:
SS.912.A.1.1: Describe the importance of historiography, which includes how historical knowledge is obtained and transmitted, when interpreting events in history.
SS.912.A.1.2: Utilize a variety of primary and secondary sources to identify author, historical significance, audience, and authenticity to understand a historical period.
SS.912.A.1.4: Analyze how images, symbols, objects, cartoons, graphs, charts, maps, and artwork may be used to interpret the significance of time periods and events from the past.

26. Incorporating SOAPSTonE
Introduce it after content lesson is taught, knowledge acquired.
Whole group first.
Start with a short document.
1-2 steps (closure activity, bellringer on following class day).
Complete 4/5 times together before using it as an independent activity.

27. Let’s do one together and Let’s SING!!!
1860 Election Song SPEAKER Lincoln and Liberty OCCASION Hurrah for the choice of the nation! AUDIENCE Our chieftan so brave and so true; PURPOSE We'll go for the great Reformation — SUBJECT For Lincoln and Liberty too! TONE EVIDENCE We'll go for the son of Kentucky (Make connections to the overlying issues) The hero of Hoosierdom through; The pride of the Suckers so lucky For Lincoln and Liberty too! Our good David's sling is unerring, The Slaveocrat's giant he slew; Then shout for the Freedom-preferring For Lincoln and Liberty too!

28. Group Activity
Read and Analyze one of the four 1860 National Presidential Election Platforms with your group peers.
Use the SOAPSTonE strategy for your assigned Primary Source Document.
Choose a group leader to present your analysis in a few minutes.

29. GROUPS Republican Party Northern Democratic Party
Southern Democratic Party
Constitutional Party

30. Would this map been helpful?

31. 1856 Election

32. Making those connections… The Election of 1860 in Modern Context
In recent memory, the most comparable situation to the election of 1860 was the presidential race between George W. Bush and Al Gore. Both elections followed similar patterns and the issues each candidate was presented were comparable. Bush won the election although Gore received the majority of the popular vote. Just like 1860, the Electoral College was the deciding factor. Oddly enough, both Lincoln and Bush inherited a war within a year of their inauguration. However, one major difference was the swap in States political affiliation in the elections. In 1860, the South voted primarily Democrat while the North was almost entirely Republican. These values have seen radical changes since then.
Next step, perhaps, teach a lesson on the Electoral College.

33. Final thoughts on incorporating SOAPSTonE in the classroom
Increasing the rigor
Making the connections
Big picture (The significance of the election of 1860)ramifications / results / connecting the dots)
Raising the stakes
EOC connection
Writing tool – using the completed chart – beginning component to grow
Deep analysis
Stepping stone

34. Helpful websites
Library of Congress National Archives