Analyzing the Evidence James Parsons NTTI 2006

Introductory activity Nonfiction history book 1.How might the author have gotten the information found in the book? 2.What types of research may the author have done? 3.What sources of information may the author have used?

Introductory activity “Primary Source Document” Materials directly related to a topic either by time or participation

Introductory activity “Primary Source Document” If you were to write a book about the Underground Railroad would your book be a primary source?

Introductory activity Are all primary sources written documents?  A photograph  An article of clothing  An audio recording  A video recording In your team, discuss how the following might be primary sources.

Introductory activity The year 2306: Your school is the site of an archeological dig. A team of historians have discovered artifacts related to life in your school in Task: Look at the artifacts in your group and decide which ones are primary sources. Defend your decision. What do the artifacts reveal about your school in 2006? Remember, primary sources provide “hints” to the past.

Introductory activity Primary sources only provide clues and hints to the past and not all of the details of the event. Select an artifact as an example. Does the artifact tell the whole story about the people and events surrounding its creation?

Introductory activity Examine the photographs and make conclusions about the photographs and the people in them. Complete the questions in Part I of the activity sheet “Analyze This”. Share your assumptions. Were you able to obtain historical information from these primary sources? How? Select one person from a photograph as the basis for a “character study” on Part II of the “Analyze This” activity sheet.

Learning Activities Web activity Group1: A Gathering of Men Group 2: De Furst Work I Done Group 3: The Swift Current Group 4: Collared Men Group 5: The Schedule

Learning Activities Focus for Media Interaction: Examine the assigned primary sources and complete information on Part 1 & 2 of the Analyze That worksheets. Discuss the primary source and information gathered about analyzing & preserving primary sources. Jot down tips & pointers for preserving ones own personal artifacts.

Learning Activities Often a primary source document or artifact viewed in isolation may not include all of the information necessary to understand a person or an event from history. We will now get additional information on some of the documents we have examined.

Learning Activities Focus for Media Interaction: 1.Identify what life was like for African Americans a century ago. 2.What evidence is seen illustrating that African Americans were not treated equally? 3. Why do you think the consequences of “challenging the system” could be disastrous.

Learning Activities Focus for Media Interaction: 1.Recount the primary source from “The Swift Current”. Is your assessment of what happened to TD Jakes’ grandfather in agreement with the video? 2.Predict what you think may have happened to him.

Learning Activities Focus for Media Interaction: Focus for Media Interaction: 1.Validate your predictions to see if they are correct. 2.What exactly happened to TD Jakes’ grandfather? 3.Why does the death certificate not reflect this information? 4.Which version of the story are you more likely to believe?

Learning Activities Focus for Media Interaction Follow-up: Focus for Media Interaction Follow-up: 1.Are both the death certificate and the grandmother’s story primary sources? 2.Is there a way to definitively determine what happened? 3.How could TD Jakes’ ancestors have left behind a more complete record for their descendants?

Culminating Activity PROJECT: 1. “Curate” a primary source from your own life. The primary source could be a photograph, a newspaper clipping, a report card, trophy, etc. Decide upon the appropriateness of what documents one would use.

Culminating Activity PROJECT: 2. Determine what would be the most important details about the primary source that would be left behind for your descendants. Refer back to the previous activities for tips and pointers. You might want to write letters or provide biographical information. Create a key for your document.