1. Conducting Historical Investigations
Using iRead
Presentation #2

2. What is History?
History is the study of past events that involved or affected people and places.
This study is based on the interpretation of EVIDENCE – without evidence, there is no proof that the event happened.

3. Two types of Evidence:
Evidence that comes from the time of the event is called PRIMARY SOURCES.
A Primary Source has an eyewitness quality to it.
Examples include: a diary, letter, on-the-spot account, newspaper interview…
It can also be audio-visual and include a film, photograph, recorded song…

4. Evidence Continued…
Evidence that was created after the event is called a SECONDARY SOURCE.
A secondary source is based on primary source.
Examples include: books, journal and magazine articles, documentary films…
Secondary sources include commentaries, which are the opinion of others.

5. Historians are detectives who…
find all of the related evidence about an event.
determine if the evidence is FACT or INFERENCE.
check for BIAS (If the information is too one-sided or prejudiced).
interpret all of the collected evidence.
draw conclusions from it.
conclude by presenting a THESIS or main idea.
use the evidence to support it.

6. Why do we investigate history?
History is not a “Completed” Subject.
As old evidence is interpreted differently or new evidence becomes available, history becomes revised and rewritten.
History is DYNAMIC – it’s always changing.

7. There are many sides to a story. People often may…
have different views of the same historical event.
interpret the evidence differently and present completely different accounts and conclusions.
sometimes EMBELLISH the evidence or even OMIT some of it.

8. The Process of Historical Investigation
Begins with an Essential Question.
The historian then investigates the topic by asking general questions like:
What exactly happened?
What was the order of events?
Where did it take place?
Who was involved?
Then they ask more probing questions like:
Why did the event(s) take place?
What were the causes?
What were the effects?

9. Next Steps…
Once the historian has compiled a list of questions, he/she determines what sources they will need to research the topic and answer the questions.
Ex. Books, journals, magazines, Internet, interviews…
Remember not all sources are equal! There’s a lot of junk out there - Beware!!!

10. Process Continued…
The historian then has to assess and interpret the information being gathered.
Is it reliable?
Is it correct?
Who wrote it?
Why did they write it?
What is fact, inference, opinion?
When historians feel that they have gathered enough accurate reliable information, they form a thesis and work to support it.

11. How to use iRead when dealing with evidence?
I = Identify information
R= Read text & graphics
E= Examine the author
A= Assess the influences
D= Determine quality of writing

12. Examine the author for authority…
Are there words that indicate bias?
What is the tone of the text?
Why did the author write this piece?
What’s his/her motivation?
When? Where was the text written?
Is the author reliable? Believable?

13. Assess the influences on the work…
What events surround the document?
Was the text influence by the time period?
Who might’ve influenced the text? And why?
History is generally written by the dominant groups or by dominant people.
Historical events just don’t happen by themselves – there’s ALWAYS a background to them.

14. Determine the quality of the writing…
Does the author support his/her ideas
What facts or statistics are being given?
Where do the facts come from?
Is there a clear argument being presented?
How does information effect or change what you already know?

15. Process of Historical Investigation
Research and record
your findings.
Synthesize information
and support Thesis.
1. Start by asking
an Essential Question.
Interpret your
Information.