Historians and their Sources Mrs. Rida

What do people rely on to understand the past? In other words, what can we use to allow us to “re-present” the event or study it? Draw a circle map like the one shown and answer the question above. How do we study the past?

Historians need… Evidence: Facts or information that can be used to test whether a belief is true or valid. Example: Historians, like police officers must have evidence to support their accounts.

Let’s say… That I told you that you have to write a history of your parents’ experiences in 7 th grade. What evidence could you use? Pass out guided notes

Types of sources When historians study an event, they use sources related to the event. Historians classify the sources they use in two categories called: –Primary Sources –Secondary Sources

Primary Sources Definition: Firsthand account about an event. Includes words, images, or objects created by persons directly involved in an event.

Examples 1.Physical/material remains: Buildings, roads, tools, weapons, coins, pottery, battle sites, clothing 2.Geographic records: maps, charts 3.Visual records: drawings, paintings, photographs 4.Written records: letters, diaries, memos, laws, books, reports, trials, public meetings, receipts, , interview recordings.

Types of Primacy Sources Interview Records Old Coins or money Pottery Pictures Paintings Clothing Letters

your understanding Imagine you are a historian. You want to know what Middle School students learned in school from Which of the following would be considered a Primary Source? Interviews with people who went to middle schools or taught middle school in the 1980s State laws about education requirements in the 1970s A report written by a historian in 2010 Textbooks used in schools in the 1960s

Secondary Sources Definition: Contain second hand information. Created by people who were not eyewitnesses to the event.

Examples A written analysis of old firsthand interviews about an event. A book that describes an event written many years after the event took place

your understanding Imagine you are a historian who wants to know what American Middle School students learned in school from Which of the following would be considered a Secondary Source? a.An interview with the neighbor of a person who was a middle school teacher in the 1950s b.An article written in 2010 about middle schools in the 1960s c.A final exam from a social studies class in 1980 d.A history textbook used in 1950 from a middle school.

Look at the Usage of the Source The difference between a Primary Source and Secondary Source is how the historian used the source. For example, when studying what students learned in middle school from 1950 to 2000 a textbook used in that time period is a Primary Sources- it’s 1 st hand material A textbook is also a Secondary Source about the events written in the textbook- it explains events long after they happen

Which Source are best? A primary source is not necessarily better than a secondary source because not all primary sources are of equal value in helping a historian study an event. How does a historian decide which sources are the most accurate when studying an event? A Historian does three things when examining a source: 1.Distinguishes between Facts and Opinions 2.Checks for Internal Consistency 3.Checks for External Consistency

Formative Assessment: WCID You will be given a small piece of paper Write your name on it Read the statement on it Classify whether it’s a primary or secondary source Defend why you made your choice Place in the appropriate poster Name : Mrs. Rida A CD of Justin Bieber’s first album. Primary or Secondary: Why: This source is primary, because its a record of their work, just like a painting. Primary

Group Work Step 1: One person gets “stuff”, 2 markers chart paper Statement Directions: 1. Fold chart paper in half horizontally. 2. Fold in half again vertically. 3. Make a triangle fold in the center this will create a diamond shape for the title in the middle

Write your statement here Primary or SecondaryYour Stance Defend your Claim Convert to opposite source Group Work—fill out the poster

Write your statement here Primary or SecondaryYour Stance Defend your claimConvert to opposite source Group Work Group one—do 1 st box Pass paper to the team on your right  Primary  Secondary

Write your statement here Primary or SecondaryYour Stance Defend your claimConvert to opposite source Group Work Group two—do 2 nd box Pass paper to the team on your right We agree/disagree with this because  Primary  Secondary

Write your statement here Primary or SecondaryYour stance Defend your claimConvert to opposite source Group Work Group two—do 3rd box Pass paper to the team on your right This is a ____________ source because… We agree/disagree with this because  Primary  Secondary

Write your statement here Primary or SecondaryYour Stance Defend your claimConvert to opposite source Group Work Group two—do 4 th box Pass paper to the team on your right Rewrite the statement as an example of the opposite source We agree/disagree with this because  Primary  Secondary This is a ____________ source because…

BREAK

Fact Definition : A fact is something that can be proven about a subject or can be tested or proven Example : Look for clues such as: o “56% of…” o “The president stated…”

Opinion Definition : What someone thinks about that subject Example : Look for clues such as: o “Its obvious..” o “I believe” o “They should”

Records show that most middle schools require students to take social studies; however, they should also require foreign languages. your understanding

Contradiction Definition : The facts presented cannot all be true; they clash with one another Example : It's a contradiction to say she's your girlfriend if she refuses to go out with you.

Inconsistency Definition : The facts are presented differently which raises questions about the source’s accuracy (correctness) Example : The team's biggest problem has been inconsistency: they play well at times, but at other times they play very poorly.

Internal vs External Internal : Within a single document External : When comparing more than one document or source

Internal Examples A diary entry states that Ali and Hussein went to school on Monday. Later on in the diary it states: Ali and Mohamed went to school on Monday. Is this internal or external? Is it a contradiction or an inconsistency? How about: Later on in the diary it states: Ali went to school Monday. Then later on, its states in the same diary, that Ali never showed up to school that day. Is this internal or external? Is it a contradiction or an inconsistency?

External Examples An entry in a diary states that Ali went to school on Monday. But an Interview with another student says: Ali and Mohamed went to school on Monday. Is this internal or external? Is it a contradiction or an inconsistency? How about: In the diary it states: Ali went to school Monday. However, attendance records show that Ali never showed up to school that day. Is this internal or external? Is it a contradiction or an inconsistency?