Ohio Test Prep - Social Studies

Main Ideas

To successfully master this module, you need to:

A. Evaluate the reliability and credibility of sources.

To draw conclusions about history, we need to analyze, organize and evaluate a wealth of information. You should be able to identify primary and secondary sources of information, and evaluate the relevance and value of the claims in these sources. Reliable sources use accurate facts and adequately support statements. A source that contains unstated assumptions and/or bias may not be credible. The credibility of a source is also called into question if it contains logical fallacies.

B. Use data and evidence to support or refute a thesis.

You should be able to form opinions and determine their positions on the issues presented to you. In addition, you must identify and utilize evidence to effectively defend your positions. A research project you develop or present should have a strong thesis statement
and provide adequate support for it. Evidence used to support a thesis or an argument must be credible and related to the thesis.

To learn more about these benchmarks, read Chapter 11: Social Studies Skills and Methods, pp. 154-164 in Mastering the Ohio Graduation Test Social Studies.