Using Primary Sources in Expository Writing

Develop Context Read from student textbooks – “Why did Europeans sail to new places?” and “Who were the explorers and what did they find?” (Scott Foresman pg ) Research/note taking using an additional secondary source

Columbus Columbus Content: describe in detail what you see. Connections : is it connected to other things you already know or have learned about? Conclusion: Columbus seemed to have been motivated by converting natives to Christianity, or he may have mentioned this multiple times because he was writing for his sponsors. Columbus perceived natives as primitive and simple because of the lack of clothing and material (specifically metal) items. He perceives them as a non-aggressive people even though he sees evidence that they can/will defend themselves. There is a sense that he sees this conquest as destined by a higher power and for a greater good. Citation: Citation: Who wrote it or made it? When was it created? Context: Context: Time Period. What was going on then? Why was it created? Ship’s recorder (quoting Columbus), Thursday Oct. 11, 1492 After seeing what we now know as the Bahamas Age of Exploration – Spanish Reconquista (exploration with the idea that the lands conquered would be controlled by Christians)…Counter-Reformation (ensuring that people in new lands were converted to Catholicism rather than Protestantism) Age of Exploration – countries sponsoring explorers to find a route to Asia for trade Sees inhabitants of island; thinks they will be easily converted to his religion in friendship (than by force); the explorers gave the natives glass beads and other things they could part with; the natives returned to the ship later carrying items & the two parties traded; to the explorers, the natives seemed poor because they were naked; details the “well made” bodies and their hair and body paint; thinks they have no experience with weapons because they cut themselves with the explorer swords; comments on darts made of fish teeth; scars from defending themselves against people from island next to them; thinks they will be good servants and says they seem intelligent; made Christian; they have no religion; takes 6 of them for King This must have been before the Counter Reformation because they make no mention of converting to Catholicism. I thought that it was only AFTER Columbus, Cabot, and Vespucci, that the explorations had religious motivation – this seems to contrast with this idea. Was not aware that any natives were abducted during early explorations. Many explorations were sponsored by rulers of wealthy countries. The explorers perceived the natives as primitive and easily impressed by small trinkets. If the natives didn’t respond “well” to the explorers, they were prepared for battle.

Think Aloud – Model Analyzing Primary Source Sailing west from the previously insignificant port of Palos on the Gulf of Cadiz, Columbus' fleet consisted of two small caravels, one square-rigged and the other lateen-rigged, and a 100-ton vessel from Galacia. Compared to previous Portuguese endeavours, Columbus' expedition was remarkably cavalier, and many of the sailors displayed little enthusiasm for the long voyage. But so certain was Columbus that he was going to arrive in Asia that he carried a letter to present to the grand khan and he brought along an Arabic interpreter. Setting sail for the Canaries, Columbus intended to find a favourable wind that would bring him to Japan. After little over a month at sea, Columbus' ships sighted land in what is now known as the Bahamas. The ship's recorder entered in his journal on Thursday, October 11, 1492, the following: …..Presently many inhabitants of the island assembled. What follows is in the actual words of the Admiral in his book of the first navigation and discovery of the Indies. "I," he says, "that we might form great friendship, for I knew that they were a people who could be more easily freed and converted to our holy faith by love than by force, gave to some of them red caps, and glass beads to put round their necks, and many other things of little value, which gave them great pleasure, and made them so much our friends that it was a marvel to see. They afterward came to the ship's boats where we were, swimming and bringing us parrots, cotton threads in skeins, darts, and many other things; and we exchanged them for other things that we gave them, such as glass beads and small bells.

. In fine, they took all, and gave what they had with good will. It appeared to me to be a race of people very poor in everything. They go as naked as when their mothers bore them, and so do the women, although I did not see more than one young girl. All I saw were youths, none more than thirty years of age. They are very well made, with very handsome bodies, and very good countenances. Their hair is short and coarse, almost like the hairs of a horse's tail. They wear the hairs brought down to the eyebrows, except a few locks behind, which they wear long and never cut. They paint themselves black, and they are the color of the Canarians, neither black nor white. Some paint themselves white, others red, and others of what color they find. Some paint their faces, others the whole body, some only round the eyes, others only on the nose. They neither carry nor know anything of arms, for I showed them swords, and they took them by the blade and cut themselves through ignorance. They have no iron, their darts being wands without iron, some of them having a fish's tooth at the end, and others being pointed in various ways. They are all of fair stature and size, with good faces, and well made. I saw some with marks of wounds on their bodies, and I made signs to ask what it was, and they gave me to understand that people from other adjacent islands came with the intention of seizing them, and that they defended themselves.. I believed, and still believe, that they come here from the mainland to take them prisoners. They should be good servants and intelligent, for I observed that they quickly took in what was said to them, and I believe that they would easily be made Christians, as it appeared to me that they had no religion. I, our Lord being pleased, will take hence, at the time of my departure six natives for your Highnesses, that they may learn to speak. I saw no beast of any kind except parrots, on this island."

Sentence Frames for Citing Sources Sentence Frames… According to __the ship's recorder on Columbus’s expedition__(source), _” people who could be more easily freed and converted to our holy faith by love than by force __(observation/quote), which means” _ Columbus seemed to have been motivated by converting natives to Christianity, or he may have mentioned this multiple times because he was writing for his sponsors and this was their motivation__(inference or conclusion). In __________________ (source), it says/shows _________________________ (observation /quote) which indicates ________________________(inference or conclusion). When ___________________(source) stated/depicted ________________(observation/quote), one can conclude that ____________________(conclusion). __________’s (author/artist) _________________(source) suggests that/shows/points to/implies ______________________(inference or conclusion) because ____________________(observation/quote). In examining _______________________________, one can infer _________________.