Becoming Historical Interpreter

What is history?

• Mankind’s study and written record of past events

• All past events prior to yesterday

• People, places, and events of the past

Why do people study history?

• To learn from past mistakes and improve the future

• To learn about ancestors

• To learn about why people are the way they are today

• All of the above

What do historians use to learn about the past?

• Graphic organizers

• Topic sentences

• Thesis statements

• Research materials from multiple sources

Select the best example of bias

• An encyclopedia article about Pearl Harbor attack

• An email from the president of the Philadelphia Eagles Fan club encouraging members to recruit more members

• A recipe from the Joy of Cooking cookbook

• A photograph of Eagle View Middle School

Which would be the more credible source to use to answer the following question: Who was present at the signing of the Declaration of Independence?

• The Hollywood movie, The Patriot, staring Mel Gibson.

• A copy of the Declaration of Independence document with signatures at the bottom.

Select the primary source document

• A chapter from a social studies textbook

• An online encyclopedia article

• The Diary of Anne Frank

Select the secondary source

• Volume 1 from John Adams' Autobiography

• A biography about Abigail Adams

• Love letter written by Abigail Adams to her husband, John.

Why do historians use corroboration when studying evidence?

• To strengthen a claim or argument

• To find new information about an event

• To solve a problem

• To search for missing details

What questions do historians ask when sourcing evidence? Check all that apply

• Who created this tool?

• Why was the Declaration of Independence written?

• When was this political cartoon published?

• How much does this textbook cost?

Which of the following are considered sources?

• photographs

• videos

• newspapers

• letters or diaries

• all are sources