Unit 1: Historical Thinking and Geography Skills

Vocabulary based on historical thinking skills, analyzing sources, and understanding bias and context.

What is social studies?

A mashup of social sciences such as history, geography, economics, and political science.

What does it mean to be a critical consumer of information?

Analyzing and evaluating information for yourself, not just taking what you read or hear at face value.

Describe a historian’s best tools.

primary sources - something from the time period being studied

How does a secondary source differ from a primary source?

A secondary source is someone’s interpretation of a primary source.

Why is it important for historians to be aware of an author’s bias when examining sources?

Bias can cause an author to give inaccurate information. A historian can still use a biased source as long as he/she is aware of the bias.

How is “point of view” different from “bias”?

Point of view means the circumstances from which someone observes an event, whether or not it is biased

How will we use “context” this year?

1. To determine the meaning of unfamiliar words in a text.

2. To determine what else was going on in the world at the time that an event happened

In history class, what are the most common examples of an author’s purpose?

1. to inform

2. to persuade

Why do we need social studies?

Learning more about the past and our current world helps us make better decisions and become more informed citizens