The Method of Historical Inquiry

1
The Method of Historical Inquiry

• Why Do We Study History?

2
Recall

• History is what we choose to remember about the
  past.
• Our common experience binds us together.

3
Interpretation

• History involves explaining people and events.
• Historians read between the lines.
• History can illustrate ideas.
• Speculation means guessing about the past.

4
Interpretation and Illustration

• What is happening in the image?
• Which side created the image? Why?

5
Application

• Use the past to understand the present.
• The past must engage in dialogue with the
  present.
• Use personal experiences to make sense of the
  past.
• Examine situations in the past.

6
Analysis

• History involves figuring out complicated
  situations.
• Break the event down into its parts Which parts
  can you identify? Which battle was the turning
  point of the Civil War?
• Examine each part. How are the battles related?
• Try to create a time line of events Which are
  causes? effects?

7
Illustration Analysis
8
Synthesis

• History involves making sense out of a jumble of
  facts.
• You can search for patterns.
• You can speculate Guessing at reasons for
  outcomes.
• You can predict Could World War II have been
  avoided?
• You can make generalizations broad statements
  that summarize.

9
Synthesis Creating A New Idea

• Draw your own conclusions Dropping the atomic
  bomb - justified or unjustified?

10
Evaluation

• History involves making judgments about people in
  events.
• Example You can examine all sides of the Civil
  Rights issue.
• You can debate the pros and cons of integrating
  the schools.
• You can describe the strengths and weaknesses of
  the President's policy.

11
Evaluation

• You can examine the advantages and disadvantages
  of the strategy of non-violence.
• You can judge whether a person, policy, or event
  measured up to a high standard.
• Example To what extent did Dr. Martin L. King,
  Jr. measure up to the standard of the Declaration
  of Independence, the Constitution, and the Golden
  Rule?

12
Why Study History?

• If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, it
  expects what never was and never will be.
  Thomas Jefferson