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Other sources of facts are letdiaries and other documentarysources. ocumentary sourceare often produced at the timeevent takes place often by a pewho actually experiences the eHowever documentary sourcebe studied carefully. They can copinions or statements by the wthat may not be true.

Sometimes fiction writers bastories on real people and eventhe writers add madeup detailas words that the people did no

D is t in g u is h Fac t f r om F ic t io WHY IT MA TTERS

When you are reading about historyit is important to know whether whatyou are reading is true or made up. Inother words you need to be ableto tell facts from fictionor madeupwriting.

WHA T YOU NEED TO K NOWOne way to check facts is to find the

same information in a trusted reference source. For example you coulduse a dictionary or an encyclopedia ora nonfiction book such as a textbook.

Those who headed for Californiahad two choices-to go on with the

Oregon people ... and then turnsouth, or to take the new HastingsCutoff that was described in Mr.Hastings book ....

This Hastings seemsto know what he is talking

about, Mr. Reed said. I understand that hehas guided several

But not by tha t route, Mr. Reed,Donner said. George says that mouman, Mr. Clyman, ... advised us notake it. ...

Patty and I and the little Donner gwere sitting [nearby], listening. Mrs.Donner didn t seem convinced ....mother said she was sure that the mknew best, and it was very importanto get across the mountains as soonas possible. Remembering Grandmastory about the folks who were cauthe snow, ... crossing the CumberlMountains back in Kentucky, my wo

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