How does a historian work?(RE)

What Is the Evidence?

Historians look at evidence to find out about the past. Evidence

is proof that something is true. Evidence might be an object, such

as a soldier’s uniform or a scrap of pottery. Evidence might also

be a document or book that was written during a historical event.

A primary source is a kind of evidence. Primary sources are

created by people who saw or were part of an event. Letters and

diaries are primary sources. Tools and clothing are also primary

sources. Historians use primary sources to learn what people

were thinking at the time of the event. Primary sources can help

historians explain events that happened long ago.

A secondary source is also evidence. Secondary sources are

created after an event. They are created by people who were not

part of the event. Your history textbook is a secondary source.

Encyclopedias are also secondary sources. Secondary sources

can give a broad view of historical events or people. However,

new information can only come from primary sources.

Historians analyze the information in their sources. They look

for reasons that the source was created. Then historians decide if

the source is reliable when it comes to its facts. Each source was

written with a particular point of view, or attitude about people or

life. The author of a source uses his or her point of view to decide

what to include in the document. Sometimes a point of view is

based on feelings and not on facts. A judgment based only on

feelings is called a bias. Sources with a bias cannot always be

trusted to be factual or true.

Sources That Historians Use

Primary Sources Secondary Sources

• Written at the time of the

event

• Eyewitness to history

• Reliable source for

historians

• Includes letters, diaries,

tools, clothing

• Written after an event

• Author did not witness the

event

• Contains facts about an

event

• Includes textbooks and

encyclopedias

Lesson 2 How Does a Historian Work?, Continued

Glue Foldable here

7

Copyright by McGraw-Hill Education.

What Does a Historian Do?

NAME_________________________________________ DATE _____________ CLASS _______

Paraphrasing

3. In your own words,

explain how to make

an inference.

Marking

the Text

4. Underline the text that

explains what a

scholarly journal is.

Explaining

5. Explain why it is

important for historians

to read articles in

scholarly journals.

Writing About History

Historians interpret information from primary sources to make

inferences. Making an inference means choosing the most likely

explanation for the facts. Sometimes the inference is simple.

When you see someone with a wet umbrella, you can make the

inference that it is raining. Making inferences about historical

events is not so easy.

To make an inference, historians start with primary sources.

They use sources they already know are trustworthy. Next, they

read secondary sources. They think about the different points of

view. Finally, they make an inference to explain what happened.

Many historians write articles about their inferences. Most

articles are published in scholarly journals, or magazines.

Scholarly magazines are concerned with learning. Usually, other

historians read the articles to make sure the facts are correct.

They decide whether they agree with the inferences in the

article. Historians must be careful to make inferences based on

facts. They do not want to show a bias in their writing.

How Historians Make Inferences

Study primary

sources

Review secondary

sources

Think about

different points

of view

Make an

inference to

explain what

happened

Historians can write and review scholarly articles because they

become experts on a historical subject. They focus their

research. Some historians focus on a very narrow area of study.

Someone might study a particular historical person, such as

Queen Elizabeth I of England. Someone else studying the past

might focus on the events of a single place and time.

Other historians may have a very broad focus. For example,

they may study the economic history of many places in a certain

period of time. Others may study the history of an idea, such as

medicine or technology.

Lesson 2 How Does a Historian Work?, Continued

8

Copyright by McGraw-Hill Education.

What Does a Historian Do?

NAME_________________________________________ DATE _____________ CLASS _______

Marking

the Text

6. Underline the

definition of

conclusion.

Reading

Check

7. Why do historians

draw different

conclusions about

events of the past?

8. Place a one-tab

Foldable along the

dotted line. Label the

anchor tab Historians.

Label the Foldable

Evidence, Inferences,

and Conclusions.

Make a memory map

by drawing three

arrows below the title

and writing three words

or phrases that you

remember about

historians and their

work. Use your memory

notes to help you

complete the activity

under the tab.

Lesson 2 How Does a Historian Work?, Continued

A conclusion is a final decision that is reached by reasoning.

It is like an inference. Historians draw conclusions about events

of the past. They look for facts and evidence in their sources.

Then, they use reasoning to draw a conclusion.

Sometimes historians disagree in their conclusions. For

example, some historians say that Genghis Khan was a brutal

warrior. They tell how he would destroy cities and kill people

when he came to a new land. Other historians disagree. They say

that Genghis Khan was a good ruler. His empire had a time of

peace. Traders were safe to trade goods. People were protected

by good laws.

Which conclusion is correct? Was Genghis Khan a cruel warrior

or a good leader? A historian may use evidence to explain his or

her conclusions. If both conclusions are supported by evidence,

they both can be correct.

Examine primary sources.

Use already-known facts.

Read secondary sources.

Use facts to make an inference or draw

a conclusion.

Write article about inference or conclusion.

Check for Understanding

Explain how historians use different sources to draw

conclusions.

1.

How are a person's point of view and bias related?