Introduction to World History – What Do You Need to Know?

DO-NOW

• Finish “Tell Me About You” handout from yesterday.

• If you finish, please brainstorm a list answering the following prompt:

•Why should we study history, in particular world history???

Why should we study history?

• After a few minutes, turn to your partner and discuss your responses.

• We will then share with the class.

• http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=191139&title=Why_Study_History_

• 1. Understanding the past is the key to understanding the present

• 2. It keeps us informed on current events as they unfold.

• 3. It helps us to appreciate multiple perspectives and interpretations.

• 4. Analyzing history strengthens our critical thinking skills.

• 5. It trains us to gather evidence and to find patterns and trends.

• 6. You can apply information from the past to analyze and solve problems in the present.

• 7. It gives us an understanding of other people and cultures.

• 8. It challenges us to think outside the box, and to be creative. 

• 9. History gives us the excitement of discovery, and the reward of solving real world problems.

What do you think historiography means?• Think for a minute and then we will discuss as a class.

•Historia – History•Graphia (think biography)- writing

• Together = the study of historical writing! (like analyzing documents)

In order to do this…

• We need to know the difference between various types of historical sources. What is a source?

• Now when thinking of sources…

Sources

• Is there more than one account of history?

• Does the author make a difference when analyzing historical writing?

• What do you think it means to look at “multiple perspectives” when studying historical sources?

• TASK – think of various historical documents or books (sources). You may work with a partner. What are the similarities/differences?

Give some examples of what you came up with!• Keep in mind – who wrote the source you thought of and when was it written?

• This what we need to do in order to think like historians. We are doing historiography.

In summary….

• Example:• Reading the Declaration of Independence would be much different than reading biographies of the Founding Fathers. Why?

•ONE IS A PRIMARY SOURCE AND ONE IS A SECONDARY SOURCE!!!!

What’s the difference?

• Primary source = 1st hand account that was written during the actual time period.

• Secondary source = 2nd hand account that uses primary sources and at a later event than when the actual event took place.• Declaration of Independence – actually written in 1776

• Biographies of Founding Fathers – written years later by other people.

• Looking at historical sources during the actual time period can give us a great insight into the minds of people at the time. We can look at different perspectives to come up with our own historical conclusions.

• Please complete the worksheet that will be provided. Determine if the source is a primary or secondary source.

• Go over Cheating, Plagiarism, and Collaboration