Lesson 1 - Sources and Critiques in Philippine History

Primary Sources

______ are the evidence of history, original records or objects created by participants or observers at the time historical events occurred or even well after events, as in memoirs and oral histories

Primary Sources

_______ may include but are not limited to letters, manuscripts, diaries, journals, newspapers, maps, speeches, interviews, documents produced by government agencies, photographs, audio or video recordings, born-digital items (e.g. emails), research data, and objects or artifacts (such as works of art or ancient roads, buildings, tools, and weapons). These sources serve as the raw materials historians use to interpret and analyze the past.

Secondary Sources

_______ were created by someone who did not experience first-hand or participate in the events or conditions you’re researcihng

Secondary Sources

________ interprets and analyzes primary sources. These sources are one or more steps removed from the event, which may contain pictures, quotes, or graphics of primary sources.

Tertiary Source

A collection, summary, or distillation of primary and secondary sources for easy reference. Examples include encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbooks

Context

The ______ is the historical situation in which the primary source was produced, utilizing the 5 Ws in understanding why the information is written and why the data is collected

Content

It summarizes or describes the source, asking the questions what is the organization or outline? What are the main terms and ideas? If the source is an object, what is it?

Consequences

It ask the questions what were the historical consequences of this source? How did it change things, or what change did it represent? What does this source tell us about the event we are studying? Why is this source important in history?

Determining the Date of the Document

It is a test of authenticity in external criticism to see whether these are anachronistic. An example for this is pencils did not exist before the 16th century

Determining the Author

It is a test of authenticity in external criticism that checks the handwriting, signature, and seal of the written statement.

Anachronistic Reference to Events

It is a test of authenticity in external criticism which checks if the way pieces of information are written are too early, too late, or too remote

Provenance or Custody

It is a test of authenticity in external criticism which determines the genuineness of information or written statement

Semantics

It is a test of authenticity in external criticism that determines the meaning of a text or word

Hermeneutics

It is a test of authenticity in external criticism that determines ambiguities, analyzing the interpretations

Problem of Credibility

It is an internal criticism concern which checks if the particulars in the document are relevant

Verisimilar

It is an internal criticism terminology which checks if the event is as close as what really happened from a critical examination of best available sources

Identification of the Author

It is an internal criticism which is done to determine the reliability of the author, checking on his mental processes, personal attitudes, etc.

Determination of the Approximate Date

It is an internal criticism concern which checks the handwriting, signature, and seal of the written statement

Ability to Tell the Truth

It is an internal criticism concern which refers to the nearness to the event, competence of witness, degree of attention, etc.

Willingness to Tell the Truth

It is an internal criticism concern which determines if the author consciously or unconsciously tells falsehood

Corroboration

It is an internal criticism concern which rest upon the independent testimony of two or more reliable witnesses

Rare Books

These are publications which are no longer in circulation and have been long out of print. Generally, these are publications in book form that is at least 50 years old and is no longer being published