In the statement, "The student will identify a famous African American with his/her accomplishments and write one important event that changed history," what is the performance activity?

The performance activity outlined in the statement is focused on writing one important event that changed history. This task requires students to not only identify a notable African American figure but also to reflect on and articulate a significant historical event related to that person's impact. By emphasizing the writing component regarding the important event, it aligns well with the educational goal of encouraging students to engage thoughtfully with historical content and develop their writing skills.

While identifying a famous person is part of the overall task, the distinct action of writing an event is what constitutes the key performance activity. The choice related to writing a research paper implies a broader and more extensive assignment than what is described, and participating in a discussion does not engage the students with the written expression required in this specific activity.