Social+Studies+Skill+Set

= Social Studies Skills for Social Understanding and Civic Efficacy =

__Investigation Skills (Acquiring)__
• Locate appropriate and varied information sources • Obtain information from a variety of print and electronic sources • Identify key words • Develop search strategies • Distinguish between primary and secondary sources • Locate particular facts in social studies documents • Identify the main idea • Formulate appropriate questions • Understand chronology • Recognize relevant facts and ideas • Evaluate bias of sources/authors • Evaluate reliability, credibility, and validity of information from a variety of social studies sources • Locate data into graphic organizers • Take notes, Enter data, Paraphrase, and Summarize • Identify multiple perspectives • Compare and contrast • Validate data using multiple sources • Formulate essential questions in the social studies • Formulate a thesis statement in the social studies that examines whys as well as hows

__Decision-Making Skills (Processing)__
• Define and clarify a problem • Identify situations in which a decision is required • Distinguish between fact, opinion, and reasoned argument • Clarify point of view and context • Identify assumptions and fallacies • Evaluate the accuracy and timeliness of information • Analyze credibility and authenticity • Suggest logical alternatives • Predict probable consequences • Provide evidence to justify best solution • Investigate cause and effect relationships and their impact on people, environments, and economic systems • Analyze and evaluate the impact of ideas, events, and/or people on groups, environments, economic systems, and/or subsequent events • Hypothesize possible outcomes from an initial event recognizing multiple causes and accidental factors • Consider democratic values: participation, the worth and rights of individuals, the rule of the majority and the rights of the minority, equality and justice, and the common good • Self-monitor one's thinking process

__Communication Skills (Generating)__
• Produce and interpret outlines, charts, graphs, maps, tables, timelines, and decision-making grids that explain problems and/or construct solutions • Make appropriate citation of sources • Create a product that uses social studies content to support a thesis and present the product in appropriate manner to a meaningful audience • Reconstruct and express multiple points of view and integrate a historic, geographic, civic, or economic perspective

__Civic Skills (Interacting)__
• Appreciate the benefits of diversity and community • Appreciate the value of widespread economic opportunity • Appreciate the contributions that people of both genders and the full range of ethnic, racial, and religious groups have made to our society • Acquire ways of managing conflict that are consistent with democratic procedures • Collective decision-making • Compromise for the collective good • Practice the civic virtues of respect for the worth and dignity of each person, civility, integrity, self-discipline, tolerance, compassion, and patriotism.