In this American history paper we will explore how historians study. Guiding questions: How do historians know what they know? How is what historians know substantiated? What are the limits of historians’ work? These are all important questions to consider when studying any historical subject or era.

How historians study.

Introduction How do historians know what they know? How is what historians know substantiated? What are the limits of historians’ work? These are all important questions to consider when studying any historical subject or era. We take these questions to task in this important assignment that helps lay the foundation for future historical study. Summary Adapted from materials originally from the Library of Congress’s American Memory Lesson, “This lesson introduces students to primary sources—what they are, their great variety, and how they can be analyzed. The lesson begins with an activity that helps students understand the historical record.

How historians study.

Students then learn techniques for analyzing primary sources.” Finally, students apply these techniques to analyze primary sources about the so-called “Savage.” Steps Note: Compile all your responses to the Chapter 17 assignment into one Microsoft Word document that you will submit via the Blackboard Assignment feature. Read the following instructions and information carefully and complete all parts of this assignment. 1. Read completely and carefully the information provided at the end of these steps under the grayed heading “Preliminary Reading for the Assignment.” 2. Next complete in thought and writing the “Mindwalk Activity” provided below these instructions and the information you read in Step 1.

How historians study.

3. Once you have read all the material under the “Preliminary Reading for the Assignment” heading and completed the “Mindwalk Activity,” you are ready to practice your skills with an actual primary source from America in the late 19th century. You will practice by reading the primary source provided under the grayed heading “Primary Source for the Assignment.” 4. After you have read the “Primary Source for the Assignment” on the so-called “Savage,” answer the seven “Questions to Answer on the Primary Source” at the end of this document. Compose your answers based on your reading and interpretation of the primary source, including relevant excerpts from the document to support your responses.

How historians study.

Preliminary Reading for the Assignment Primary and Secondary Sources Historians use a wide variety of sources to answer questions about the past. In their research, history scholars use both primary sources and secondary sources. Primary sources are actual records that have survived from the past, such as letters, photographs, articles of clothing. Secondary sources are accounts of the past created by people writing about events sometime after they happened. For example, your history textbook is a secondary source. Someone wrote most of your textbook long after historical events took place. Your textbook may also include some primary sources, such as direct quotes from people living in the past or excerpts from historical documents.

How historians study.

People living in the past left many clues about their lives. These clues include both primary and secondary sources in the form of books, personal papers, government documents, letters, oral accounts, diaries, maps, photographs, reports, novels and short stories, artifacts, coins, stamps, and many other things. Historians call all of these clues together the historical record. The Historical Record The historical record is huge. It contains literally billions of pieces of evidence about the past. Despite its huge size, the historical record gives us just a tiny glimpse of the past. Most of what happened in the past was never documented. Many sources of information about the past have been lost or destroyed.

How historians study.

Some primary sources were accumulated simply by accident. But some historical sources were created and saved by people interested in recording history. People kept journals, wrote diaries and autobiographies, recorded family trees, and saved business and personal letters and papers. How can the historical record be both huge and limited? What kind of historical records do you leave behind in your daily life? https://youtu.be/YMdCUQF5o5w

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