Document Analysis Activity
Overview:
This activity challenges participants to engage in deep analysis of historical documents of any type. Participants will read the documents and use the information learned to answer a set of questions about American Indian Removal from Ohio. This can be either a group or an individual activity, and aids in developing reading and comprehension skills, as well as historical knowledge.
Students should be given the primary source documents and instructed to read and analyze them using the Know, Guess, Questions, document analysis activity sheet as a guide. They can work individually or in groups. The students or groups can then share and discuss their findings with the class as a whole in a discussion led by the teacher. Using these same documents, students can then write a paper about the process of indian removal in Ohio from the perspective of one of the people who created these documents. They should base this paper upon the source provided, and can use a combination of their imagination and further research to fill in the details of that individual's life.
List of Materials
- Packet of Primary Source Materials with Transcripts: pdf file
- KGQ Document Analysis Activity sheet: pdf file
- Vocabulary List: pdf file or Word document
- Pencils or Pens
- Paper
Instructions:
- Print enough primary source material and instruction page packets for each student or group.
- Divide the class into small cooperative groups then distribute the primary source packet and KGQ document analysis activity sheet to each student or group.
- Instruct the students to read the documents, using the transcripts if necessary, keeping in mind to make generalizations, summarizations, and conclusions.
- Direct the students to complete the instruction pages using the knowledge they have gained.
- When the activity is completed, ask the students to share their findings with the class.
- The students or groups can then share and discuss their findings with the class as a whole in a discussion led by the teacher.
- Ask each student to write an essay that describes the process of Indian removal from Ohio.
Primary Source Materials:
These pages show the primary sources in more detail; including description, creator, creation place, and date for each source. For ease in application of the Document Analysis Activity, all sources have been converted into one PDF document. Each source is followed by a printed transcript.
McPherson's Land Grant Paperwork
Supplementary Materials
Treaty of Greenville on Ohio Memory
Wampum Belt Presented to Anthony Wayne
Engraved Portrait of Tens-qua-ta-wa, or the Shawnee Prophet
Engraved Portraits of Indian Chiefs
© Copyright 2007 Ohio Historical Society. All images and documents provided for educational purposes only. Any commercial or resale use of OHS material is prohibited without the express permission of the Ohio Historical Society.
