Welcome to Welcome to Grade 10 Grade 10 HistoryHistory

What is History?What is History?

History is the study of History is the study of past events that past events that involved or affected involved or affected people and things.people and things.

This study is based on This study is based on the interpretation of the interpretation of EVIDENCE – without EVIDENCE – without evidence, there is no evidence, there is no proof that the event proof that the event happened.happened.

What is Evidence?What is Evidence?

Evidence that comes from the time of the Evidence that comes from the time of the event is called PRIMARY EVIDENCE.event is called PRIMARY EVIDENCE.

Primary Evidence has an eyewitness quality to Primary Evidence has an eyewitness quality to it.it.

Examples of primary evidence include a diary, Examples of primary evidence include a diary, letter, on-the-spot account, newspaper letter, on-the-spot account, newspaper interview…interview…

It can also be audio-visual and include a film, It can also be audio-visual and include a film, photograph, recorded song…photograph, recorded song…

Evidence Continued…Evidence Continued…

Evidence that was created after the event is Evidence that was created after the event is called SECONDARY EVIDENCE.called SECONDARY EVIDENCE.

Secondary evidence is based on primary Secondary evidence is based on primary evidence.evidence.

Examples of secondary evidence includes Examples of secondary evidence includes books, journal and magazine articles, books, journal and magazine articles, documentary films…documentary films…

Secondary evidence includes the author’s Secondary evidence includes the author’s interpretation and biases.interpretation and biases.

Historians are like DetectivesHistorians are like Detectives They try to find all of the related They try to find all of the related

evidence about an event.evidence about an event. They try to determine if the They try to determine if the

evidence is FACT or evidence is FACT or INFERENCE.INFERENCE.

They check for BIAS (If the They check for BIAS (If the information is too one-sided or information is too one-sided or prejudiced).prejudiced).

They then interpret all of the They then interpret all of the collected evidence and try to draw collected evidence and try to draw conclusions from it.conclusions from it.

They conclude by presenting a They conclude by presenting a THESIS or main idea and use the THESIS or main idea and use the evidence to support it.evidence to support it.

History is not a “Completed” History is not a “Completed” SubjectSubject

As old evidence is interpreted differently or As old evidence is interpreted differently or new evidence becomes available, history new evidence becomes available, history becomes revised and rewritten.becomes revised and rewritten.

History is DYNAMIC – it’s always changing.History is DYNAMIC – it’s always changing.

There are many sides to a There are many sides to a story…story…

People may have different People may have different views of the same historical views of the same historical event.event.

People may interpret the People may interpret the evidence differently and evidence differently and present completely different present completely different accounts and conclusions.accounts and conclusions.

People may sometimes People may sometimes EMBELLISH the evidence EMBELLISH the evidence or even OMIT some of it.or even OMIT some of it.

The Process of Historical The Process of Historical InvestigationInvestigation

Begins with an interest, curiosity Begins with an interest, curiosity or assignment.or assignment.

The historian then investigates the The historian then investigates the topic by asking questions.topic by asking questions.

First he/she asks general First he/she asks general informational questions like: informational questions like: What exactly happened? What What exactly happened? What was the order of events? Where was the order of events? Where did it take place? Who was did it take place? Who was involved?involved?

They then move to asking more They then move to asking more probing questions like: Why did probing questions like: Why did the event(s) take place? What the event(s) take place? What were the causes? What were the were the causes? What were the effects?effects?

Historical Investigation Continued…Historical Investigation Continued…

Once the historian has Once the historian has compiled a list of compiled a list of questions, he/she questions, he/she determines what sources determines what sources they will need to they will need to research the topic and research the topic and answer the questions. answer the questions. Ex. Books, journals, Ex. Books, journals, magazines, Internet, magazines, Internet, interviews…interviews…

Process ContinuedProcess Continued

The historian then has to assess and interpret The historian then has to assess and interpret the information being gathered.the information being gathered.

Is it reliable? Is it correct? Who wrote it? Why Is it reliable? Is it correct? Who wrote it? Why did they write it? What is fact, inference, did they write it? What is fact, inference, opinion?opinion?

When historians feel that they have gathered When historians feel that they have gathered enough accurate and reliable information they enough accurate and reliable information they form a thesis and work to support it.form a thesis and work to support it.

They then conclude and present their findings.They then conclude and present their findings.

Process of Historical InvestigationProcess of Historical Investigation

2. Researching and Recording.

4. Synthesizing and Concluding.

1.Starting a Historical Investigation.

3. Interpreting yourInformation.

Important ThemesImportant Themes

History is generally written by the dominant groups History is generally written by the dominant groups or by dominant people.or by dominant people.

Historical events just don’t happen by themselves – Historical events just don’t happen by themselves – there’s always a background to them.there’s always a background to them.