Social Studies (Grades 5–12) Subtest 1
Subarea
I.1. Social Studies Skills
0001
Understand how to locate, gather, organize, and present social studies information.
- applying basic social studies research procedures (e.g., posing questions, formulating hypotheses, constructing a research design) and problem-solving skills (e.g., defining the problem, breaking the problem into manageable parts, gathering and evaluating data, proposing solutions)
- applying procedures for retrieving information from traditional sources and new technologies (e.g., gathering sources, note taking, file maintenance, preparation of bibliographies)
- organizing information into effective outlines and graphic formats
- recognizing social studies methodologies and applying appropriate methods and techniques for collecting information in the social studies (e.g., research, interviews, surveys, case studies)
- distinguishing between primary and secondary sources and assessing the comparative advantages of each
- applying procedures for summarizing data and composing coherent written positions on public issues (e.g., reasoned arguments, relevant evidence and examples)
- evaluating the appropriateness of alternative written and graphic formats for conveying a specific body of information
0002
Understand how to analyze and evaluate social studies information, make generalizations, and reach supportable judgments and conclusions.
- analyzing the purposes and perspectives of diverse sources of social studies information
- recognizing central theses, main ideas, and supporting details in various sources of social studies information
- drawing inferences and conclusions from social studies evidence, making generalizations, and determining whether specific conclusions or generalizations are supported by verifiable evidence
- distinguishing between fact and opinion in various sources of social studies information and comparing alternative interpretations and points of view
- evaluating the accuracy of social studies information in written and graphic form and applying criteria to analyze the credibility of positions taken on social studies topics (e.g., self-interest, logical validity, omission of critical data, emotional appeals, unstated assumptions, distortions, appeals to bias or prejudice)
- interpreting social studies issues represented in graphic formats (e.g., charts, diagrams, maps, political cartoons, graphs) and using information derived from visual sources to analyze historical, geographic, economic, or political science issues and topics
- synthesizing social studies information from multiple sources (e.g., national demographic statistics and voting patterns in presidential elections)
0003
Understand historical concepts, terms, sources, and perspectives.
- demonstrating knowledge of basic historical terms and concepts (e.g., chronology, causality, change, conflict, nation-state, globalization, modernization)
- applying knowledge of basic reference sources used in historical research (e.g., the Internet, electronic databases, periodical guides, encyclopedias, biographical dictionaries, almanacs, historical atlases)
- distinguishing between primary and secondary sources of historical information
- evaluating the uses and limitations of various historical source materials (e.g., oral histories, newspapers, diaries, artifacts, probate data, tax lists, personal correspondence, videos, materials accessed through information technologies)
- analyzing cause-and-effect relationships between historical events and developments, recognizing patterns of historical change and continuity, and examining patterns of change within and across cultures
- analyzing important historical interpretations and examining multiple historical and contemporary viewpoints within and across cultures
0004
Understand the content and methods for developing students' content-area reading skills to support their reading and learning in the social studies.
- demonstrating knowledge of key components and processes involved in reading (e.g., vocabulary knowledge, including orthographic and morphological knowledge; background knowledge; knowledge of academic discourse, including the syntactic and organizational structures used in print and digital academic texts; print processing abilities, including decoding skills; use of cognitive and metacognitive skills and strategies)
- demonstrating the ability to plan instruction and select strategies to support all students' content-area reading (e.g., differentiating instruction to meet the needs of students with varying reading proficiency levels and linguistic backgrounds, identifying and addressing gaps in students' background knowledge, scaffolding reading tasks for students who experience comprehension difficulties)
- demonstrating knowledge of explicit strategies for facilitating students' comprehension before, during, and after reading content-area texts and for promoting their use of comprehension strategies
- demonstrating knowledge of explicit strategies for promoting students' academic language and vocabulary development, including their knowledge of domain-specific vocabulary words
- demonstrating knowledge of explicit strategies for developing students' critical literacy skills (e.g., encouraging students to question texts, developing students' ability to analyze texts from multiple viewpoints or perspectives)
- demonstrating the ability to plan instruction and select strategies that support students' reading and understanding of social studies texts (e.g., recognizing words that signal opinions and judgments, distinguishing between primary and secondary sources, drawing inferences and conclusions, analyzing author's purpose and point of view, discerning cause-and-effect relationships, interpreting graphic presentations of social studies information, using a variety of social studies reference sources)
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