REFLECTION

Developing a DBQ addresses both the first and second learning outcomes, as I not only analyzed the documents and placed them in historical context but also evaluated them for their appropriateness, validity, and contribution to students’ understanding of modern education issues.  The reason why I selected this as my final project was because not only is developing an argumentative essay an important skill for my students, but the modern Middle East is often neglected or de-humanized by focusing on conflict rather than personal perspectives. In utilizing primary sources, it pushes students to understand individual stories that fit into a broader context rather than painting with broad strokes. I will assign this essay to students in May, and their responses will help me reflect on the quality of the prompt as well as the documents that I selected.  If it seems that students are missing critical information, misinterpreting a perspective, or otherwise struggling with some of the primary sources I selected, I will make changes to better support their learning next year. As the experience of creating this Document-Based Question was a valuable one for me, I also wonder if it might be a valuable assignment for students to build their own portfolio of documents and develop a prompt; it pushes them to use their higher-order thinking skills in the same manner that it pushed me, and more fully helps them anticipate what to expect on the AP exam.