War of 1812: Comparing Accounts

Topic: Canadian History, The War of 1812

Historical Thinking Skills: Close Reading, Sourcing

Time Period: 1810s

This assessment provides insight into students’ ability to analyze historical interpretations and match sources to their appropriate context. Students must examine how different accounts of the same event are shaped by factors such as time period, perspective, and purpose, and use this understanding to make evidence-based judgments.

In “War of 1812: Comparing Accounts”, students compare two textbook accounts of the War of 1812. While both texts describe the same conflict, they differ in tone, language, and emphasis. Students are asked to determine which textbook corresponds to each citation—one published in 2007 and the other in 1894—and to justify their reasoning using specific evidence from the texts.

In this alternative version, students evaluate a student’s completed response to the task provided above. While the student response demonstrates some relevant thinking by attempting to connect ideas in the text to a broader claim, they err in several aspects. Students are tasked with critiquing this example response to show their understanding of careful close reading and contextualization.