Decide how far to trust a source: author, purpose, audience, and a second source
Grade 8 Social Studies Worksheet
Circle the best answer.
Read this first
Use this
Card A (about 1798): "Paul Revere's letter to Jeremy Belknap". Who made it: Paul Revere himself. For whom: Jeremy Belknap, for the Massachusetts Historical Society. Why: to record what happened on his ride. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Revere had arranged lantern signals in the Old North Church. Two friends rowed him across the Charles River. With William Dawes and Samuel Prescott he warned towns. British soldiers held him, questioned him and let him go. How far can I trust it? For: Revere was there himself. Against: He wrote about 23 years later, from memory. Card B (printed 1863): "Paul Revere's Ride, a poem". Who made it: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, a poet. For whom: readers of poetry. Why: to tell an exciting story in verse. Excerpt (Tales of a Wayside Inn, Boston, 1863, pp. 18-19 and 24): "...Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry arch / Of the North Church tower as a signal light, -- / One, if by land, and two, if by sea; / And I on the opposite shore will be, / Ready to ride and spread the alarm... ... It was two by the village clock, / When he came to the bridge in Concord town." How far can I trust it? For: It keeps the real date and towns, such as Medford and Lexington. Against: A poet wrote it 88 years later, and it never names Dawes or Prescott. Card C (today): "The Real Story of Paul Revere's Ride". Who made it: the Paul Revere House museum. For whom: visitors and readers today. Why: to tell what the records show. Summary in our words, not a quotation: The lanterns were a signal to Patriots across the river in case Revere could not leave Boston. A British patrol stopped Revere, Dawes and Prescott. Dawes and Prescott got away. Revere went back to Lexington on foot and never reached Concord. How far can I trust it? For: It is built from several of Revere's own accounts. Against: It was written long after, by people who were not there.
Who rode with Revere and is named on card A, Noah asks?
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
- William Dawes and Samuel Prescott
- No one; Revere rode alone
- Jeremy Belknap and Captain John Parker
By card C, who were the lanterns a signal for, Pia asks?
Use the picture in question 1.
- Patriots across the river
- Revere, waiting on the far shore
- British soldiers in Boston
- The people of Concord town
By card C, how did Revere's ride end, Ren asks?
Use the picture in question 1.
- In Philadelphia, with a letter
- In Boston, at the Old North Church
- Stopped, then back to Lexington on foot
- At the bridge in Concord at two o'clock
Which card disagrees with the others about where Revere waited for the lanterns, Tala asks?
Use the picture in question 1.
- Card C, the museum
- Card A, Revere's letter
- Card B, the poem
- The three cards agree on it
Why does card C give more detail than the poem, Ari asks?
Use the picture in question 1.
- Its writers rode that night
- It was written first
- It is a poem as well
- It uses Revere's own accounts
How many years after the ride was Revere's letter written, Bo asks?
Use the picture in question 1.
- About 23 years
- About 33 years
- About 3,573 years
- About 88 years
How many years after the ride was the poem printed in this book, Esme asks?
Use the picture in question 1.
- 3,638 years
- 23 years
- 88 years
- 98 years
Why does the time gap matter when Jun judges card A?
Use the picture in question 1.
- Older cards are more reliable by far
- Memory can change over 23 years
- The gap shows Revere was not there
- A gap shows the letter is false
What is a reason against trusting the poem as history, Kira asks?
Use the picture in question 1.
- Written 88 years later; names missing
- It uses no real towns
- Revere wrote it himself
- It is much shorter than Revere's letter
Milo wants the most reliable source on who rode with Revere. Which card is best, and why?
Use the picture in question 1.
- Card B: it is the most famous
- Card B: it is a poem, so it is exact
- Card C: its writers rode that night
- Card A: Revere was there, and C agrees