Table 3

Coding Scheme for the Quality of Text-based Historical Grounds

LevelsCharacteristicsExamples
G-Level 5Textual evidence as grounds PLUS text-based reasoning, including:
  1. explicit warrant connecting position/claim to evidence

  2. text-based inference to bolster argument

  3. related question to challenge opposition

Athens are better because, um, you … Because Athens set up—set up its economy after the Persian Wars. At first its money was kept on the island of Delos, but in 454 b.c., the money was moved to Athens where the Athenians could control it. And because they have—the reason that it would be a better place to live is ‘cause they have money.
G-Level 4Textual evidence as grounds (verbatim from text OR paraphrased from text).I think that Athens was a better place to live because in #16 it says that they built the greatest and most beautiful buildings.
G-Level 3Text-based inferences as grounds or general references to key concepts in text as grounds.Another reason why—Well, the last reason why I think that, um, Athens was better than Sparta is because they don’t have to go to camp at age 7.
G-Level 2General references to the text itself as grounds.How is it lies if it says in the reading?
G-Level 1Grounds that are not based on text.Student 1: Um, they said that their soldiers would have to- have to- they’re better because they go to camp by age 7. Well-
  Student2: They don’t- We don’t need to train ‘cause at—‘cause at the age of 7, we know how to train ourselves.
G-Level 0No grounds.We think that ancient Egyptians were wasteful spenders.
Note: This coding scheme is modeled on the framework of Clark and Sampson (2008).

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