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Essential Skills Evidence Form StandardThink Critically and Analytically Skills 1. Identify and explain the key elements of a complex event, text1, issue, problem or phenomenon. 2. Develop a method to explore the relationships between the key elements of a complex event, text1, issue, problem or phenomenon. 3. Gather, question and evaluate the quality of information from multiple primary and secondary sources. 4. Propose defensible conclusions that address multiple and diverse perspectives. 5. Evaluate the strength of conclusions, differentiating reasoning based on facts from reasoning based on opinions. Description of Activity/Task/Experience that demonstrates I am at or above standard in the specific skills for the standard mentioned above: In my AP Government class we recently had an assignment where we had to choose a current popular topic in the United States. This topic had to be highly controversial and we had to choose a side to be on, whether it be liberal or conservative. Once we found our topic we had to do heavy research on it to keep up with our teacher in a debate. While doing my heavy research I came upon sites I deemed bias, leaning liberal or conservative, and I disregarded these websites because I did not want flawed information. Once I had learned more about my topic it became clear which side I was going to stand on. After a lot of scrutiny I found some websites that explained both sides of the argument thoroughly with factual evidence to support their claims. I was able to write a 1,500 word essay from my findings, which were a great help to my debate.

Explanation/Reflection of how the activity/task/experience described above meets or exceeds the specific skills of the standard mentioned above: This task was very difficult at first because I was coming to websites with seemingly flawed opinions and I was forced to bypass these websites, and the bank of information they held. Once I found those few websites that explained both sides equally, I knew they contained viable information.

Text includes by is not limited to all forms of written material, communications, media, and other representations in words, numbers, and graphics and visual displays using traditional and technological formats.