Students will launch the investigation by examining contrasting representations of American identity, generating inquiry questions, and recording an initial position for later reflection and revision.

Students will investigate competing definitions of American identity in foundational documents, literature, and accounts of struggles for rights; then use that evidence to develop a focused inquiry question and an ethical oral-history interview plan.

Students will conduct and document an ethical oral-history interview, corroborate testimony with historical and literary evidence, develop and critique a claim-driven documentary plan, and revise a short documentary in response to peer and teacher feedback.

Students will exhibit their oral-history documentaries to an authentic audience, respond to questions with evidence, exchange peer feedback, and submit a final reflection on their academic and socio-emotional growth.