Lesson plan

Tram

A tram, also known as a tramcar, streetcar or trolley is a form of urban rail transit in which vehicles, whether individual railcars or multiple-unit trains, run on tramway tracks laid on or parallel to public streets, or operate in segregated right-of-ways. Trams are a type of light rail and are generally the smallest-scale form of such rail transit; they operate in mixed traffic with other motor vehicles, provide lower local-scale capacity, and operate with limited signal-priority. However, their larger vehicle size and steel wheels allow for greater capacity and improved energy efficiency in comparison to diesel or electric buses. Their units are typically capable of forming motor coaches or motorcars, which allows for the operation of longer trains. Trams are usually lighter and shorter than main line and rapid transit trains or metros. Most trams use electrical power, fed by a pantograph sliding on an overhead line; older systems may use a trolley pole or a bow collector. In some cases, a contact shoe on a third rail is used, or the tram runs on battery or diesel motors. Trams are primarily operated as local public transit, but can also operate as a hybrid tram-train, running at-grade in a city center and switching to segregated right-of-ways in suburbs. Occasionally, they may also carry freight.…

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Article summary

A tram, also known as a tramcar, streetcar or trolley is a form of urban rail transit in which vehicles, whether individual railcars or multiple-unit trains, run on tramway tracks laid on or parallel to public streets, or operate in segregated right-of-ways. Trams are a type of light rail and are generally the smallest-scale form of such rail transit; they operate in mixed traffic with other motor vehicles, provide lower local-scale capacity, and operate with limited signal-priority. However, their larger vehicle size and steel wheels allow for greater capacity and improved energy efficiency in comparison to diesel or electric buses. Their units are typically capable of forming motor coaches or motorcars, which allows for the operation of longer trains. Trams are usually lighter and shorter than main line and rapid transit trains or metros. Most trams use electrical power, fed by a pantograph sliding on an overhead line; older systems may use a trolley pole or a bow collector. In some cases, a contact shoe on a third rail is used, or the tram runs on battery or diesel motors. Trams are primarily operated as local public transit, but can also operate as a hybrid tram-train, running at-grade in a city center and switching to segregated right-of-ways in suburbs. Occasionally, they may also carry freight.…

Key claims

  1. date of establishment: 1804 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
  2. date of establishment: 1894 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
  3. date of establishment: 1887 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

  1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
  2. The record states that the date of establishment is "1804". What evidence would count against this claim?
  3. The record states that the date of establishment is "1894". What evidence would count against this claim?
  4. The record states that the date of establishment is "1887". What evidence would count against this claim?
  5. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
  6. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

  1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1378854758

Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.