What is Historical Thinking

Summary

The video script delves into the concept of historical thinking, emphasizing its importance in understanding the past. It outlines five key aspects: using multiple sources for a comprehensive view, analyzing primary sources for their context and reliability, questioning the origin and purpose of sources (sourcing), understanding the historical context to avoid misinterpretation, and basing historical narratives on evidence. This approach is not only beneficial for a more accurate historical understanding but is also integral to fostering critical thinking and responsible citizenship.

Takeaways

• 📚 Historical thinking involves the reading, analysis, and writing necessary to understand and tell stories about the past.
• 🔍 It's not just about what we know about the past, but also how we know it, given the challenges of retrieving historical events.
• 📚 Multiple sources are essential for constructing a more accurate picture of past events, as no single account can capture the complexity of history.
• 📝 Primary sources are original documents and objects created at the time of the event and are crucial for reconstructing the past.
• 🤔 Historical thinking includes learning to read, question, contextualize, and analyze primary sources, as they can present different narratives about the same event.
• 👀 The importance of questioning eyewitness accounts and considering the interests and context in which they were recorded.
• 📚 State standards often include the requirement for students to use multiple sources and analyze them for purpose, perspective, and credibility.
• 📅 The concept of 'sourcing' involves identifying the origin of a source, the author's intent, the timing of its creation, and its intended audience.
• 🌐 Context is central to historical reasoning, requiring historians to understand the ideologies, politics, and social conditions of the time.
• 📈 Historical context involves locating events and sources in time and space, and making connections to understand the broader picture.
• 📖 Writing history requires telling stories supported by evidence; truth claims in history must be substantiated to distinguish good history from fiction.

Q & A

What is the definition of historical thinking as described in the script?

Historical thinking is the process of reading, analysis, and writing necessary to tell historical stories. It's not just about what we know about the past, but how we know it, and it involves constructing a more accurate picture of what happened and what it meant.

Why is it important to use multiple sources when studying history?

Using multiple sources is crucial for getting as accurate a picture as possible of past events. No single account written from one perspective can capture the complexity of the past, so students must work with multiple accounts and learn to analyze and synthesize them.

What are primary sources and why are they important in historical thinking?

Primary sources are original documents and objects created at the time under study. They are vital to reconstructing the past and help students learn how to read, question, contextualize, and analyze these sources to understand different stories about the same event.

How should primary sources be approached when studying a historical event?

Primary sources need to be questioned and read closely. Students should consider what the eyewitnesses had to lose or gain with their accounts, what interests were at stake, how soon after the event and for what audience each account was recorded, and look for points of agreement and disagreement.

What does the script suggest about the relationship between teaching historical thinking and state standards?

Teaching historical thinking is not only beneficial but also aligned with many state standards. At least 38 states specify this learning outcome, emphasizing the use of multiple sources and learning to analyze those sources for purpose, perspective, credibility, and validity.

What is the concept of sourcing in historical thinking?

Sourcing is about identifying and asking questions about the origin of the source, the author's purposes and perspective, when the source was created and for whom, and about its trustworthiness. It helps students to better understand historical events and their causes.

Why is context important in historical reasoning?

Context is central to historical reasoning because it helps to locate events and sources in time and space, and to ask questions that provide a fuller understanding. It involves making connections and considering factors such as ideologies, political tensions, and the broader world in which historical figures lived.

What role do sources play in writing history?

Sources provide evidence for claims made about the past. When writing history, stories must be supported by evidence to distinguish plausible claims from falsehoods and to ensure that the account is truthful and not mere fiction.

How does historical thinking help students become better readers, thinkers, and citizens?

Historical thinking helps students to critically analyze information, understand different perspectives, and make informed judgments. It is not separate from the content students learn but serves as a vehicle to help them master it, fostering critical thinking and responsible citizenship.

What are some additional elements of historical thinking mentioned in the script?

Additional elements of historical thinking mentioned in the script include concepts like causation, significance, change over time, and reading strategies like corroboration.

Where can teachers find teaching resources to help bring historical thinking into their classrooms?

Teachers can explore the Clearinghouse to find teaching resources that will help them incorporate historical thinking into their classrooms.