Document-based questions: interpret an excerpt.

In 1902, McClure's magazine began to publish a series of articles by Ida M. Tarbell on the Standard Oil Company. Tarbell's work focused on how John D. Rockefeller turned his oil business into a powerful monopoly. The excerpt below is from one of those articles.

WORD to Know: appraiser: someone who estimates the quality and size of a property in order to set a price or value on it.

from "The Rise of the Standard Oil Company"

by Ida M. Tarbell

There were at that time some 26 [oil] refineries in the town--some of them very large plants.... To the owners of these refineries, Mr. Rockefeller now went one by one, and explained [his plans]. "You see," he told them, "this scheme is bound to work. It means an absolute control by us of the oil business. There is no chance for anyone outside.... You are to turn over your refinery to my appraisers, and I will give you Standard Oil Company stock or cash, as you prefer, for the value we put upon it. I advise you to take the stock. It will be for your good." Certain refiners objected. They did not want to sell. They did want to keep and manage their [own] business. Mr. Rockefeller was regretful but firm. It was useless to resist, he told the hesitating.... "You can never make more money, in my judgment," said Mr. Rockefeller. "You can't compete with the Standard. We have all the large refineries now. If you refuse to sell, it will end in your being crushed."

[McClure's, December 1902]

1. List four phrases or sentences from the excerpt that are statements of FACT.- -

2. List four phrases or sentences from the excerpt that are statements of OPINION.--

FILE YOUR OWN STORY

Using quotes and information from the excerpt, write your own brief news article about Rockefeller's actions. Try to describe' what happened without expressing your personal opinion directly. Be sure that your article answers the six basic journalistic questions: who, what, when, where, how, and why.

Answers:

1. Statements of fact (any four, worth 5 points each):

* There were 26 refineries in the town.

* Some were very large plants.

* Rockefeller visited refinery owners one by one.

* "Certain refiners objected."

* Some refinery owners did not want to sell.

* Some refiners wanted "to keep and manage their [own] business."

* Other statements are acceptable.

2. Statements of opinion (any four, worth 5 points each):

* "This scheme is bound to work."

* "There is no chance for anyone outside."

* "It will be for your good."

* It was useless to resist.

* "If you refuse to sell, it will end in your being crushed."

* Other statements are acceptable.

3. File Your Own Story (worth 60 points each):

Articles will vary. Ask students to read their pieces aloud, and have the rest of the class point out the answers to the six questions. Discuss: Does the writer's personal opinion appear anywhere? Should it? Why or why not? How did Ida Tarbell present her opinion without stating it directly?