1. RESEARCH SIMULATION TASKS (RST)
World History – Mr. William Beaver

2. What is an RST???
An RST requires students to “analyze” a topic through the use of several sources, images and presentations of data.
Students use the various documents and information to respond to specific questions.
They then “synthesize” the information to compose an analytical essay response.

3. RST’s Require students to:
“Analyze” - Examine in detail for the purpose of explanation. . . What does the documents/source tell us? What does it mean??
…AND
“Synthesize” – Combine to make something; Take what we learn from the sources and data and combine it to take a position in response to a question or problem.

4. You need to . . . Analyze the source documents. What does it tell us?
What can we conclude?
Who/what is the source?
Does that “tell” us anything? (POV, bias, reliability)
Does the source have any intent or purpose?
Grouping: Do multiple source documents go together? Reinforce a certain position or view?

5. You need to . . .
2. Compose a THESIS STATEMENT.
This is your “answer” to the question which you will explain/support with evidence in your body paragraphs.
It must be CLEAR, SPECIFIC/EXPLICIT and DIRECTLY ADDRESS THE QUESTION…don’t simply “restate the question.”

6. You need to . . . Use information from all the documents/sources.
Bring in any relevant “outside” information to support your thesis.
Compose a 5 paragraph essay that follows the directions and addresses all parts of the question & task.

7. RST - THINGS TO REMEMBER
MUST have a clear, specific thesis with 3 elements that answers the questions.
Must write a 5 paragraph essay with an intro containing your thesis, 3 body paragraphs and a conclusion which offers a summation and analysis.
Must accurately use relevant facts & state the historical context.
Must use AT LEAST the minimum number of documents required by the directions.
Must SPECIFICALLY state /cite/reference the document being used as evidence & describe how or why. “As indicated in Document 2,” state the portion/excerpt of the document you are using in your essay.
Do not be afraid to use more than one document reference in a single paragraph.
Do not be afraid to use/reference the same document more than once in your essay…especially if you want to use different parts of a doc. as evidence to support different points within your essay.