History Research

History Research

• 1.
  FINDING OUT ABOUTTHE PAST How do we get information about something that happened in the past? History research slideshow by R. McCarthy and L. Suter, Belmont High School ©
• 2.
  SOURCES OF INFORMATION •Ask people (someone who was there or might know about it) • Using the Internet • Go to a museum (view artefacts/models/fossils etc) • Watch a documentary • Watch a movie • Look at photos • Read a book • Use an encyclopaedia (on-line, web based or hard copy)
• 3.
  Sources of informationcan be divided into two categories • PRIMARY SOURCES These are things that are written or made during the time being studied. First hand information • SECONDARY SOURCES These are things written or made after the time being studied. Second hand information that is often based on primary sources
• 4.
  Examples of primarysources • Photos (taken at the time) • Artefacts • Autobiographies • Film/video footage (taken at the time) • Letters • Speeches • Paintings (done at the time) • Drawings (done at the time) • Maps • Documents • Bones • Ruins • Fossils • Graves/tombs • Cave paintings • Newspapers (from the time) • Voice recordings (from the time) • Diaries/journals • Log books • Posters
• 5.
  Examples of secondarysources • Text books • Movies • Newspapers • Pamphlets • Nonfiction books • Fiction books • Encyclopaedias • Websites • T.V shows • Models • Replicas • documentaries • Teachers’ notes • Students’ essays/assignments • Biographies
• 6.
  PHOTOS AND TRANSLATIONS •Unedited photos of primary sources can be considered primary sources • Word for word translations can be considered primary sources
• 7.
  Are these sourcesof information primary or secondary? • The Diary of Anne Frank • The helmet worn by Ned Kelly • (ex) Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s 2008 apology speech to the Stolen Generation • Last week’s newspaper article commenting on Kevin Rudd’s apology to the Stolen Generation • Captain Cook’s log book • History text book • The film “Dunkirk” starring Harry Styles • Photos of the passengers boarding the Titanic • Video footage of the shooting of JFK (USA President)
• 8.
  Does our SchoolLibrary give you access to primary or secondary sources?
• 9.
  WHAT SOURCES OFINFORMATION WOULD YOU FIND IN OUR SCHOOL LIBRARY ON THE RATS OF TOBRUK? https://clickv.ie/w/FxYe
• 10.
  ARE ALL SOURCESOF HISTORICAL INFORMATION RELIABLE? Do they all give an ACCURATE picture of the past?
• 11.
  When you areusing a source of historical information you need to consider the CONTEXT in which it was made to determine its RELIABILITY/accuracy. • Who wrote or created the source? Whose PERSPECTIVE is it from? • What was the knowledge or understanding of the person who created it? • Why was the source created? PURPOSE • Was the source written or created for someone? • When was the source created?
• 12.
  Perspective example • Considera newspaper article around the time of the start of WW2 from a British newspaper. • Consider a newspaper article around the time of the start of WW2 from a German newspaper.
• 13.
  Use more thanone source of information! This will help you get a better range of information Most importantly, more than one source should also; • help you work out if the information you have found is RELIABLE because if another source gives the same or similar information then you can have more trust in it (one source is CORROBORATING another). If two sources contradict each other you go to other sources.
• 14.
  CORROBORATION Adding strength orsupport to an idea/information (found in the sources you have located as part of your research). To make sure your information is reliable and as accurate as possible.
• 15.
  USING PRIMARY SOURCESTO MAKE EDUCATED GUESSES ABOUT THE PAST • Historians use information gained from primary sources to make judgements about what happened in the past. They investigate multiple sources to confirm the educated guess (hypothesis) they make about the past. • They work out who, what, where, when, how & why by studying primary sources.
• 16.
  BE THE HISTORIAN! •Your group will be allocated an object (primary source) • You need to find the object (they are all numbered) • You need to study the object and discuss it • Most of these you can touch (be careful and sensible) and others are labelled “Do Not Touch”. Please be respectful.
• 17.
  Investigating the pastusing a primary source • Look closely at the object from all angles • If you are allowed, feel it’s weight. What is it made from? • Is there any writing or printing (any dates?) • What might it have been used for, by whom and when?
• 18.
  HYPOTHESIS • After investigatingthe primary source your group needs to make some educated guesses about what it might be and/or what it was used for. You will then present your hypothesis to the class • In a normal investigation you would also use secondary sources (books, internet etc) to help you with identifying and dating the object
• 19.
  Local History Investigation •Using the primary sources found at an old local property make some educated guesses about the property and the people who lived there. • Remember to be on the look out for corroborating evidence. • Look at your worksheet
• 20.
  Can you makeany guesses about what the object is, when or where it was used? What extra information would help?