Proficient reading of informational text, especially primary source documents, requires practice. This message from Thomas Jefferson about the Louisiana Purchase offers readers a chance to develop these comprehension skills.

Concepts

primary source analysis, louisiana history, the louisiana purchase

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Additional Tags

social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• Collect the entire set of worksheets and use periodically as skill-building exercises
• Sort the worksheets by subject and incorporate into appropriate units
• Ask readers to list things the letter reveals about Jefferson

Pros

• A photo of the original document is included in the resource
• The first five questions require a close reading of the document
• The final three questions ask readers to consider the implications of the letter

Cons

• Only one of the eight questions on the worksheet asks readers analyze the text