1. 8th Grade Social Studies Performance Task # 3 Change in America DBQ
Use this slideshow for tips on the various parts of this project

2. Parts of the Performance Task
This will be a 3 part in-class project. Any work that you do not finish in school is to be completed outside of school on your own.
Part 1: Document Based Question packet
(7 documents and 18 question packet)
Part 2: Double-sided pre-writing graphic organizer
Part 3: 4- Paragraph, typed essay

3. Tips For Completing Part 1: The DBQ Packet
Follow the steps below when answering the questions in the packet:
Identify the author by name
Identify the date of the document.
Read the documents if they have text
Look at the pictures and charts
Read the captions next to pictures and charts.
Read the question under the document.
Go back to the document and look for the answer.
Restate the question in a complete sentence
Use evidence from the document when answering the question.

4. Tips For Completing Part 2: The Pre-Writing Evidence Sheet
As you are completing your DBQ packet on the changes of American society around 1900, fill out the graphic organizer, which will help you organize the evidence you will use in your typed essay in part 3.
Look at document # 1 and determine whether or not it shows a social issue or solution to a social issue.
State your claim….. Document # 1 shows a social issue with America around the year 1900.
Use evidence from the document whether it is a picture or text……… Document # 1 is a social issue because it shows women making clothing in a kitchen, which is a fire hazard.
Repeat steps 1-3 as you go on to document # 2.

5. Completing your Essay (Read the last page of the packet carefully)
Your Packet and Graphic Organizer should be completed
Use them to draft your essay.
Fill out the Introduction and the Conclusion in the packet
Write the Body Paragraphs on Loose leaf (Use the sentence starters and follow the directions from the packet)
Type the entire essay using Google Docs. Double spaced. 12 point font. Full heading: Title: Constitution DBQ Performance Task Essay
Turn in on Engrade

6. Tips For Completing Part 3: The Essay
Go to Google Docs (Blank file)
Heading at the top left (Name, Class, Date, Change in America DBQ.
Type the Essay Question LIKE BELOW: Size 12, Times New Roman
Essay Question: What were 2 issues American workers faced in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s and what were 2 solutions that attempted to reform those issues?
Click enter 3 times and click TAB to indent.
Begin typing the following paragraphs:
Introduction
Issues American Workers Faced
Solutions created to solve those issues
Conclusion

7. Writing the Introduction
Your introduction should be about 4-5 sentences.
Step 1: Create a contextual sentence (Background to the main topic) using a catchy sentence that will grab the reader’s attention. You can do this by pulling out information from the historical context section.
Include relevant dates, people, decisions and events of the time period here.
Example: “America during the Industrial period between 1860 and 1920 went through dramatic changes.”
Step 2: Restate the main idea of the documents you read.
Example: “Some of the changes that took place include industrialization, urbanization and immigration.” 
Step 3: State what the essay will be about without using the words I, me or my…. USE COMMAS,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Example: “Because America changed so fast in such a short period of time, many issues developed. Some of these issues include, overcrowding, child labor, ______________ and _________________.”
Historical Context: In the Late 1880’s and early 1900’s American society and its people changed dramatically. The forces of Industrialization, Urbanization and Immigration led to positive and negative changes. As a result of these fast and negative changes, reformers tried to create solutions to the issues that negatively impacted America.

8. Writing the First Body Paragraph
Your body paragraph should be about 8-9 sentences. The topic is issues in America
Step 1: Write the title for this paragraph in bold like this…..
Issues in America Around  
Step 2: In your first 2 sentences, explain what the new issues in America were and list examples using commas……….
Example: Social issues include, “Child labor, urban overcrowding, _____________, ________________ and __________________.”  
Step 3: Discuss key dates, events and people…….. 
Example: “Around 1900, the population of cities like New York increased by millions of people due to immigration.”
Step 4: Use Transitional Phrases in each body paragraph, especially when beginning and ending each paragraph.
Example: First, secondly, last or lastly, then, after, later………… 
Step 5: Introduce, cite and explain your first document.
Example: “One issue in America around the year 1900 was poor working conditions in factories. In document 2, Jacob Riis discussed the plight of urban workers when he stated, ____________________________________ (Document 2).  
Step 6: Introduce, cite and explain your second document (Must be different from the first one).
Never end a paragraph with a citation of explanation of a citation.  
Step 7: Connect your 2 issues through a catchy concluding statement.
Example: “The issues of _____________ and _____________ were such a problem that reformers influenced the government to alleviate them, so that all Americans could take part in the American dream.”

9. Citing Documents as evidence in your body paragraphs
In this project, you will have to make 4 in-text citations from 4 different documents (#’s 1-7).
Cite 2 issues with American society in your first body paragraph.
Cite 2 solutions to those issues in your second body paragraph.
In-text citations tell the reader where you got your evidence and information from, which also help you to answer the essay questions.
Below are examples of how to make the proper in-text citations in your document-based essay:
EXAMPLES: According to the document 2, “_______________” (Document 2).
Evidence from document 7 suggests that the American reformers passed several laws to end child labor, these laws include, “________________” (Document 7).

10. Writing the Second Body Paragraph
Your body paragraph should be about 8-9 sentences. The topic is solving Issues with America
Step 1: Type the following title in bold, size 12, Times New Roman font:
Solutions to Issues in America Around 1900
Step 2: In your first sentence, explain what social issues are…Give examples of social issues that were present:
Example: “Some of the social issues present in American society during the turn of the 20th century included, ________________, ____________ and _____________.” 
Step 3: List some of the solutions that reformers created to address the issues you just listed in the previous sentence:
Example: “Some of the solutions that were created to address the issues were, ______________, ______________ and a commission to investigate factory conditions……………….”  
Step 4: List and connect key events, people and dates to the solutions you include:
Example: “Workers in 1881 that made steel were exposed to extreme heat and had poor working conditions.”
Use Transitional Phrases in each body paragraph, especially when beginning and ending each paragraph.
Example: First, secondly, last or lastly, then, after, later………… 
Step 5: Introduce, cite and explain your first document that highlights a solution:
Example: As a result of the 1911 Triangle Factory Fire in New York City, a commission was created to identify the problems with fire safety…….. Document 7 highlights specific measures to improve safety including, __________________and ________________” (Document 7). 
Step 6: Introduce, cite and explain your second document that supports an example of a solution to an issue poor workers faced.  
Step 7: Write a catchy concluding statement that connects the flow from issues in America to how solutions improved life for poor Americans and immigrants.
Never end a paragraph with a citation of explanation of a citation.

11. Writing the Conclusion Paragraph
Your body paragraph should be about 4-5 sentences.
Step 1: Begin with a concluding phrase that flows from negative changes to positive solutions:
Example: “It is evident that …… In conclusion, it is clear that……. American went through dramatic changes some of which were positive, and others were ________________.”
Step 2: Sum up the main idea of the essay by restating and answering the essay question in 1-2 sentences.
Example: “Initially the changes to America were _______________ but people realized these changes. The reformers then made _____________ reforms to solve the social _______________.”
Step 3: Develop a concluding statement that connects social reform in 1900 to social reformers today. 
Example: “If it were not for tragic events like the Triangle Factory Fire, we would not have the fire codes and safety procedures currently in place in our office buildings and school.”  
Step 4: Ask yourself the questions: Has the status of workers and their conditions improved, or do they still face challenges that need to be solved?  
Example: “Although there have been great changes that have improved the quality of life for poor workers and immigrants there remains more work to be done……………… One area of American society that can be improved is _________________ due to ___________________.”  
Do not cite any documents or evidence in your conclusion!!!

12. After you are done with your essay
Make sure you have submitted the following 3 assignments:
DBQ Packet
DBQ Pre-Writing Organizer
DBQ Essay
Submit it to Engrade Turn-Ins
Go to and click 9th Grade Classwork
Complete one of the three bonus assignments or complete any missing homework.