📝 Before Research Position Statement

Each student writes a brief position statement answering the essential question and naming which change from 1900–1910 they currently think most shaped the future of the United States. The statement must include a claim, two cited pieces of evidence from this phase, one counterargument they still need to investigate, and a note about how their thinking compares with their launch-day stance. This serves as the gate for moving into deeper source collection in the next phase.