Question

digital inquiry group
name_____________________
explosion of the maine graphic organizer
which account do you find more believable?

document

publication date

according to this article, what happened to the maine?

what information is included to support this version of the story?

write a quotation that contrasts with something written in the other article.

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a journal

b times

Answer:

To complete this graphic organizer about the explosion of the Maine, you would typically follow these steps (assuming you have access to the two documents, "A Journal" and "B Times"):

Step 1: Gather the Two Documents

Locate the articles from "A Journal" and "B Times" that discuss the explosion of the USS Maine. Ensure you have their publication dates.

Step 2: Analyze Document A (Journal)

• Publication Date: Record the date the journal article was published.
• *What happened to the Maine?: Summarize the journal’s account of the explosion (e.g., “The journal claims the Maine* exploded due to [cause, e.g., internal malfunction/ Spanish sabotage]”).
• Supporting Information: List details the journal includes to back its version (e.g., “Eyewitness reports from sailors,” “Forensic analysis of the wreckage”).
• Contrasting Quotation: Find a quote from the journal that conflicts with Document B (e.g., “The explosion originated from within the ship, ruling out external attack” if Document B blames an external cause).

Step 3: Analyze Document B (Times)

• Publication Date: Record the date the newspaper article was published.
• *What happened to the Maine?: Summarize the newspaper’s account (e.g., “The Times asserts the Maine* was destroyed by a Spanish mine”).
• Supporting Information: List details the newspaper includes to support its version (e.g., “Reports of Spanish activity near the ship,” “Political motives for sabotage”).
• Contrasting Quotation: Find a quote from the newspaper that conflicts with Document A (e.g., “Spanish forces deliberately placed a mine to sink the Maine” if Document A blames internal issues).

Step 4: Evaluate “Believability”

Compare the two accounts. Consider factors like:

• Evidence quality: Does one source cite more credible experts or data?
• Bias: Is one source known for sensationalism (e.g., yellow journalism) or academic rigor?
• Timing: Was one article published closer to the event (more immediate, but less analyzed) or later (with more research)?

Example (Filling the Organizer, Hypothetical):

Document	Publication Date	What happened to the Maine?	What information supports this version?	Quotation contrasting with the other article
B (Times)	1898 (newspaper)	The Maine was destroyed by a Spanish mine.	Eyewitness claims of Spanish activity, headlines.	“The Spanish government’s treachery in planting a mine is beyond doubt.”

Final Task:

After filling the table, answer: “Which account do you find more believable?” Explain your choice (e.g., “The journal’s account is more believable because it relies on forensic evidence, while the newspaper’s account uses sensationalism to support war with Spain.”).

If you need help with specific historical context: The USS Maine exploded in 1898, and competing narratives (internal vs. external cause) fueled tensions leading to the Spanish-American War. “A Journal” might represent an academic/neutral source, while “B Times” (e.g., New York Times) might reflect yellow journalism (sensational, pro-war reporting).