How do Historians Work?

How does a historian work?

• They ask questions about information they find from the past.

• They search for evidence to answer their historical questions

• All of the above

What types of evidence do historians use to understand the past?

• Material objects (a student’s uniform or broken pieces of a sculpture)

• Written materials such as historical documents written during an event.

• All of the above

What is a historian’s job when looking at primary sources?

• To make sure that there is nothing else on the table

• Guarantee that all of the photocopies will done on time

• to find evidence that explains historical events

How do we write about history?

• First, we start by thinking of something that someone has already said and then we copy it word-for-word (but without giving credit)

• Next, we arrange all of our favorite snacks near our work area so when we get a little hungry we don’t have far to go to eat something until lunch

• We interpret information from primary sources to draw conclusions and make inferences (coming to a logical conclusion)

Why is it important to make sure that a historical source is trustworthy and reliable in its facts?

• Because it is too much trouble to double-check sources so if we sound confident then people will believe us

• Because each source was written with a particular point of view and a biased point of view cannot always be trusted

• All of the above

How does the text from the lesson in class explain how professional historians become experts on their historical subjects?

• They memorize a lot of facts and dates and names and then pass a test that says “Historian Job Exam.”

• Historians gather artifacts and data about a subject and then write what they have learned from the study

• By choosing the fanciest words that she/he/they can think of and using them over and over

What is the final decision that is reached or achieved by logical reasoning?

• A conclusion

• A hypothesis

• Primary source

How do historians draw conclusions?

• By looking for facts and evidence in their primary and secondary sources

• They use reasoning to make a judgement

• All of the above

What is the job of the professional historian when it comes to the evaluation of primary sources?

• To make sure that she/he/they do not eat snacks too close to artifacts

• To explain why all interpretations of historical events can be argued

• All of the above

What are primary sources? Choose three (3) examples of primary sources from the answers below *not all are correct

• -A diary

• -A photocopy of a picture

• -An interview (like for the Aunt Gloria Project)

• -A biography

• -A birth certificate