1. ARGUMENT VALUES + EVIDENCE + REASONING THESIS + EVIDENCE + COMMENTARY
THINKING
VALUES
+ EVIDENCE
+ REASONING
ARGUMENT
THESIS
+ EVIDENCE
+ COMMENTARY
EXPRESSING

2. ARGUMENT The center of the study of history
Everything that we consider to be history is actually argument.
History=Argument: an interpretation or point of view about what happened
Because of its interpretive nature, it is important to critique and analyze historical arguments
Diagram

3. VALUES A perspective towards the subject of argument
In general, a value is a shared belief about what is right, moral, and/or important
Values are internalized by individuals and groups
Values affect the point of view that one has. They can lead to bias
Often times, values drive behavior and thinking in an unconscious manner
Diagram

4. EVALUATING EVIDENCE Evidence—any specific information used as support
Physical evidence, Data, Facts, Statistics, Witnesses
It is important to evaluate evidence
Analyzing
Relevance
Reliability
Strength/Authoritativeness
Diagram

5. REASONING Category of thinking that links values to evidence
Three Categories
Comparison—Drawing a conclusion based on how one idea or event is like another.
Includes alike and difference comparisons.
AKA historical analogies.
Cause-Effect—Reasoning used to analyze why events happened.
Generalization—Reasoning used to draw conclusions about a whole based on part(s) of the whole.
Diagram

6. THESIS Summary statement of the whole argument
States big idea you are trying to prove or support
Establishes structure of argument
Includes parts (major arguments)
“Because”, “Therefore”, “For these reasons:” “So”
Should be: BRIEF, CLEAR, DIRECT & ENLIGHTENING
Does not include EVIDENCE or COMMENTARY
Diagram

7. ORGANIZING EVIDENCE Grouping, applying and sequencing specific information in support of thesis
Align evidence to match reasoning (diagram?)
Quotes: primary sources, authorities
Paraphrasing and Summarizing
Statistics
Citation
Diagram

8. COMMENTARY Author’s interpretation, explanation & analysis
Connecting to THESIS
Interpreting EVIDENCE
Expressing analysis from THINKING level
Evaluating Evidence
Applying REASONING Evaluation Questions
Identifying & analyzing VALUES
Diagram