Historical Method: 5 step process historians use to write history Preliminary research Formulate a working hypothesis Gather evidence to support/reject hypothesis Formulate a thesis statement Write a historical account

Historical Method: 5 step process historians use to write history Preliminary Research- The first step of the Historical Method is to decide which issue to study and conduct research for evidence to provide information about what happened. (Sometimes this step is already chosen for you i.e watching history detectives) Questions to ask during this step: What am I looking to prove/write about? Where would I go to research this? What category of evidence am I finding? (primary or secondary)

Historical Method: 5 step process historians use to write history Preliminary Research Questions to ask during this step: Where would I go to research this? -Internet -textbook -magazine/journal -Librarian/Expert -Etc.

Historical Method: 5 step process historians use to write history Preliminary Research Questions to ask during this step: Where would I go to research this? What specific questions would help prove/disprove what I am finding. What category of evidence am I finding? -Primary -Secondary

Historical Method: 5 step process historians use to write history Preliminary Research What category of evidence am I finding? -Primary -Secondary Primary Source is a document or physical object which was written or created during the time period of study. ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS Diaries speeches manuscripts letters interviews - news film footage autobiographies official records  CREATIVE WORKS: Poetry, drama, novels, music, art  RELICS OR ARTIFACTS: Pottery, furniture, clothing, buildings

Historical Method: 5 step process historians use to write history Preliminary Research What category of evidence am I finding? -Primary -Secondary A secondary source interprets and analyzes primary sources. These sources are one or more steps removed from the event. Secondary sources may have pictures, quotes, or graphics within them that are primary. Textbooks Magazine articles Histories Commentaries Encyclopedias Internet -

Historical Method: 5 step process historians use to write history Preliminary Research What category of evidence am I finding? -Primary Evidence Advantage: First hand gives mood, emotion, flavor of event Disadvantage: small picture of larger event -Secondary Evidence Advantages: usually contains multiple primary sources that are explained. Researcher gets to see bigger picture Disadvantage: because it is usually interpreted by an expert who wasn’t there, it can be subjective or biased

Historical Method: 5 step process historians use to write history 2. Formulating a working hypothesis -Based on the preliminary research and questions asked, a tentative hypothesis is created on what one may believe happened. I believe … to be true. Could be If/Then but doesn’t have to be If I can prove that this map is from the 1700’s, then it might have been used at Valley Forge If I can prove the handwriting matches DuPortail, then I know that it was written by him.

Historical Method: 5 step process historians use to write history 3. Research for evidence to support or reject the working hypothesis. -Continue to study primary documents. While examining these sources the historian must ask questions about the event and the evidence Is it authentic? (The real thing) Is it reliable? Does it Corroborate? Does it support/refute? Found in Reading 4

Historical Method: 5 step process historians use to write history 4. Formulate a thesis statement -Once the evidence has been carefully examined then the hypothesis can now become a thesis statement. This map was created by a French Engineer, docketed by Louis DuPortail, and used early on at Valley Forge as a working fortification map.

A strong thesis statement… is one sentence that introduces your audience to the Historical Account. is arguable. Your audience might agree or disagree. includes reasons you will use later in the essay.  Each reason corresponds to a body paragraph. is the last sentence of your introduction paragraph and the first sentence of your conclusion paragraph… Is specific with details, words, and names.

Historical Method: 5 step process historians use to write history 5. Writing a historical account The essay usually begins with the thesis statement and is followed by the reliable, authentic, objective primary and secondary evidence.

Key Terms History: (Reading 1)The study of people and events of the past, including what happened and why. Evidence : A record of the past Primary Evidence: (Reading 3) Secondary Evidence: (Reading 3) Objective: (Reading 4) Subjective: (Reading 4) Authentic: (Reading 4) Reliable: (Reading 4) Corroboration: (Reading 4) Perception: (Reading 5) Frame of Reference: