Unit 1: Thinking Like a Historian

Primary source

• first-hand accounts of an event created by eyewitnesses or first recorders at the time of the event
• comparing different sources in order to 1) gain a more accurate account of the past, 2) evaluate the validity of a source, and/or 3) consider multiple perspectives
• the circumstances of the time in which an event occurred or in which an author lived that may have influenced his/her point of view
• accounts of events created at a later date and by someone who was not present at the event

Secondary source

• accounts of events created at a later date and by someone who was not present at the event
• Critically examining significant details and language patterns of a text in order to develop a deep understanding of the author’s claims or point of view
• an act of asking for information.
• examining the “who,” “what,” “when,” “where,” and “why” of a document

Point of view

• an opinion or perspective presented by the author of a document, influenced by the author’s personal circumstances
• the action of explaining the meaning of something.
• taking into consideration how the author was influenced by when and where the document was produced
• the personal attributes and life experiences of an author that may have influenced his/her point of view

What is the role of a historian?

• To memorize specific details about the past.
• To investigate events that occurred in the past to better understand them.
• To know which direction N, S, E, and W are on a map. 
• To use secondary sources to figure out what happened in the past. 

Why is it important to examine multiple primary and secondary sources when investigating an event?

• It is important to study multiple points of view so that you have a better picture of what really happened. 
• It is important because without both types of sources the truth would never come out.
• It is important because people always lie.
• It is important because examining facts requires knowing people's opinions. 

Why is it important to investigate the reliability (how reliable or truthful something is) of a source or group of sources?

• When a historian is studying an event, they must know that the sources they are using are valid because otherwise their entire investigation could be compromised. 
• Studying stories about the past requires a historian to look at multiple sources, and those sources must be credible and reliable or else the historian may be misinformed about what really happened. 
• If a historian does not use valid or reliable sources to study the past, their conclusions or findings about an event could be biased.
• All of these answers are reasons why using valid sources is important. 

Why do historians need to have a good understanding of maps and how to read them?

• Historians will often use maps in their study of past events and people.
• Historians need to know about maps because the main topic they study is the geography of the modern world. 
• Historians have to know about maps because that is the only type of source they use to study past events and people. 
• Historians really don't need to know about maps unless they're studying the history of map making. 

What feature does every timeline have? 

• All timelines show events in chronological order.
• All timelines go from up to down.
• All timelines go from left to right. 
• All timelines have pictures. 

A historian wants to know about the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese on December 7, 1941. The historian is looking to write a novel where the main character was a sailor who was stationed at Pearl Harbor during the attack. What source would be most helpful for this historian to use for his book?

• A photograph of the harbor after the attack occurred (primary source).
• A newspaper article from December 9, 1941 highlighting President Roosevelt's speech about the attack (secondary source). 
• A video interview of a US sailor who survived the attack (primary source). 
• A book about the attack on Pearl Harbor written by a historian and published 20 years after the attack occurred (secondary source).

I was watching ESPN and one of the reporters said he had heard good reviews about a new sports movie. When he talks about the movie, what is he?

• Primary Source
• Secondary Source