Primary vs. Secondary Sources

History --- remember Events or people from the past that have some significance. History is a story about the past. Historians construct the story by using evidence from the past.

Historian = detective What do historians use to learn about the past? Where do they find evidence to make decisions on what is historically significant?

Traces of information Write down everything you have done in the last 24 hours

Traces of information Trace = a scrap left over from the past Can be anything from a menu to a telegram or an e- mail Look at your list Make a list of any traces you might have left of your life in the past 24 hours (including digital traces) Circle the traces that were left on purpose

Traces of information Which of your traces do you think would likely be preserved (survive for a long time)? What would a historian think about you if they found some of your traces?

Using Traces Historians use traces to create accounts of history Traces = evidence (when evaluated) Account = a narrative or a story

Primary vs. Secondary Sources What is the difference? Discuss with a partner.

Primary Sources Primary Sources: are sources of information that are created at the time of the event. Examples: Journals, newspapers, photos, interviews, etc.

Secondary Sources Secondary Sources: are accounts created after the event, often describing or analysing it. Examples: textbooks, books, encyclopedias

Understanding primary sources Historians must interpret the traces they find From their interpretations they must make inferences and draw conclusions

Making inferences Inference = forming a conclusion based on what is already known When you reach a conclusion based on what you see, hear or know you are making an inference.

Volunteers? Based on our volunteers’ actions try and decide what they are doing, thinking or feeling.

Observation vs. Inference Observation = what you see, hear, know Inference = the conclusion you make based on what you see, here, know

Practice Task # 1 Arrange the cards into two columns Observations Inferences

Practice Task # 2 Inferences must be plausible Arrange the cards into two columns Plausible inferences (possible) Implausible inferences (impossible)

Let’s try it –primary source analysis Individually using your photo analysis handout examine the three photos in your textbook. Record your observations and your inferences Observations: what you see Inferences: what you think, based on your observations