Transcript The Historical Method Research and writing in history

The Historical Method
Research and writing in history
What is the study of history?
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Take a few moments and ponder what the
academic discipline of “history” means to you.
A working definition taken from your textbook:
* History = The Study of past events that
involved or affected people. This study is based
on the interpretation of evidence.
What History is Not
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History is not merely the recital of dates and
names.
While such information is valuable, historians
must thoroughly research available primary and
secondary evidence.
* Primary evidence = possesses a first-person
quality, i.e. diary, letter, newspaper interview,
Legislative Act.
* Secondary evidence = books, journals,
magazine articles and films that were produced
after the historical event in question.
What History is
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While specific facts (names, dates,
locations) are vital to the study of history,
they hardly tell the whole story.
Historians concerns themselves with broad
themes and patterns from our past.
Think of history as the ‘study of humanity.’
The Historical Method
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Historians work like investigators, probing
through the past in an attempt to
precisely reconstruct what happened.
Historical investigations typically start with
general or informational questions.
- What happened?
- Where did it take place?
- What was the order of events?
The Historical Method
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Answers to these introductory questions
are easily accessible in secondary sources.
Next, the investigation needs to look
deeper into the particular topic. Historians
typically ask themselves probing
questions.
- Why did the event or events happen?
- What were the causes?
- What were the effects?
The Historical Method
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These questions will fuel the investigation,
yet they require answers.
At this point, effective research skills are
required to uncover vital information.
Historians must decide what sources to
consult. Generally speaking, this means a
comprehensive grouping of primary and
secondary sources.
The Historical Method
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Various sources will offer unique
perspectives. Whether primary or
secondary, they can tell a different story
of the same event.
The diversity of information available on a
particular historical topic is typically
referred to as the historiography of that
subject.
The Historical Method
* Historiography = The broad range of
primary and secondary sources available
on a particular topic.
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Yet clearly not all evidence can be
weighed equally. Certain sources carry
greater credibility than others. Historians
must ascertain the strength and validity of
the sources they consult.
The Historical Method
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Whether a primary or secondary source, these
materials did not materialize on their own. They
were written, constructed or told by human
beings. People are not impartial, omniscient,
flawless entities.
With this in mind, historians must view all
sources with a hint of scepticism, and not merely
accept everything they read at face value.
The Historical Method
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With every source consulted, historians typically
ask these types of questions:
- Who is saying this? What is their
background/qualifications/knowledge on the
subject? When was the source produced? What
supporting evidence is provided?
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This type of scrutiny should be applied towards
all sources, whether primary or secondary.
The Historical Method
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Basically speaking, historians are
searching for errors, inaccuracies and
biases within each source they consult.
Such flaws do not completely discredit the
material, they simply place it within an
appropriate context.
The Historical Method
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Once the research has been completed,
historians are left with a bulk of
information on a particular topic.
Now the process shifts towards moulding
the researched information into a
historical essay.
The thesis, or central argument, serves as
the guiding force of your paper.
The Historical Method
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With the research completed, a general
conclusion should be reached regarding
the topic in question. THIS
CONCLUSION IS THE THESIS.
- For example: a historian thoroughly
researches the Cuban Missile Crisis and
comes to the following conclusion
The Historical Method
* Throughout the Cuban Missile Crisis, U.S.
president John F. Kennedy acted with grave
uncertainty and indecision. This lack of strong
leadership pushed the world to the brink of
thermonuclear war.
- This provides an example of a thesis statement.
The historian in question will utilize this
perspective, supported by research, to craft an
essay.
The Historical Method
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The historian will synthesize all of this
material into his / her essay.
Generally, the historical essay follows this
outline.
Concise background on the particular
historical topic. The thesis typically
comes at the end of this introductory
section.
The Historical Method
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Presentation of researched evidence in
an attempt to justify the thesis
statement.
A set of conclusions based on the
research. This conclusion includes some
generalizations supporting the thesis
statement.
The Historical Method
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This, in a nutshell, outlines the study of
history. Rather than merely focus on the
who, what and when? Historians take it a
step further and examine the why and
how?
Students of history approach the human
past critically. In other words, historians
are CRITICAL THINKERS.