Source Criticism

historiography

The process of writing history based on interpreting and analyzing various types of sources.

historiography

The critical examination of sources, the selection of details from the authentic materials in those sources, and the synthesis of those details into a narrative that stands the test of critical examination.

historiography

The product of historical writing: a body of historical
literature

historiography

A historian’s closest or best attempt to interpret the
past.

PAST

Factual information

PAST

Objective

HISTORY

Remnants of the past and its interpretations, open for contestation, change and revision

HISTORY

Subjective

Historical Revisionism

Krasner (2019) defines _____ as the reinterpretation of a historical account or narrative based on facts and evidence

1. Evidence-driven
2. Significance-driven
3. Value-driven

Kopecek classified Historical Revisionism into three parts;

Historical Revisionism

This is a good thing

- Looking for new evidence
- Reconsidering/reinterpreting old evidence with new instruments or points of view
- Looking back at the questions that had been asked before the new evidence was found
- Ask questions that have never been asked before

How do we "revise" history? by; (4)

Sa Aking mga Kabata

Not written by Dr. Jose P. Rizal

Historical Distortion

According to Cristobal (2019), _____ occurs when historical accounts or narratives are changed to suit a personal agenda.

Misinformation

false information that is spread, regardless of intent to mislead

Disinformation

deliberately misleading or biased information; manipulated narrative or facts; propaganda

Historical Distortion

“Historical” narratives that are not supported by credible sources and are just plainly based on hearsays or lies.

Source criticism

a set of skills that allows you to think carefully about the nature of historical sources.

Source criticism

Rather than simply accepting what sources say, ____ helps you to develop a healthy skepticism about the reasons a source was made and whether you can trust it

Evaluation and analysis

Two general skills needed in source criticism

analysis

Information, Origin, Perspective, Context, Audience, Motive

evaluation

Usefulness and Reliability

External Criticism

Concerned with establishing the authenticity or genuineness of data

External Criticism

Aimed at the document itself rather than the interpretation or meaning of them in relation to the study

External Criticism

External or Internal Criticism?


Was the author present at the event he or she is describing? In other words is the document a primary or a secondary source?

External Criticism

External or Internal Criticism?

Did the author have any vested interest in the outcomes of the event?

External Criticism

External or Internal Criticism?

Was the author emotionally involved in the event?

External Criticism

External or Internal Criticism?

Was the author competent to describe the event?

External Criticism

External or Internal Criticism?

Was the author a participant in or an observer of the event?

Internal criticism

Concerned with the validity, credibility, or worth of the content of the document

Internal criticism

Both the accuracy of the information contained in a document and the truthfulness of the author need to be evaluated

Internal criticism

has to do with what the document says

Internal criticism

External or Internal Criticism?

With regard to the contents of the document, do the contents make sense?

Internal criticism

External or Internal Criticism?

Could the event described have occurred at that time?

Internal criticism

External or Internal Criticism?

Would people have behaved as described?

Internal criticism

External or Internal Criticism?

Does the language of the document suggest a bias of any sort?

Internal criticism

External or Internal Criticism?

Do other versions of the event exist? Do they present a different description or interpretation of what happened?