christesho321Lv1

23 Oct 2022

PART 3 - Historical Evidence and Interpretation Activity

History is not simply a description of "what happened." We learn about the past using clues that have been left behind and discovered - be they artifacts (tools, images, buildings, drawing, and textiles), documents (journals, wills, posters) or written and oral descriptions. This evidence needs to be critically examined by asking the question - is this evidence adequate to support the conclusion reached?

 

When considering evidence and interpretation, we need to look at: Is this reliable or trustworthy? Reliability is about who produced the document, or where it came from.  The writer/publisher/photographer etc, is the issue here. Reliability is often determined by reputation. The more historical research you do, the better you will become at assessing this reputation. It is important to remember that when determining reliability, you are not judging the truthfulness of the information; rather you are assessing the person(s) or institution that produced (or created) it. Is it relevant? You must examine how truthful the information is. What you already know about history, or at least the event in question, will be relevant here.  If what a document suggests about an event is contrary (or opposite) to what you have learned then you should be cautious of the information provided.   Is the interpretation reasonable? Now make a judgment on the evidence. Look over all of the evidence critically and provide a reasonable interpretation (conclusion) on the information. Is the evidence trustworthy or untrustworthy? a should also be aware that reliability and relevance can affect one another-if a document has an unreliable source, this should a fact

 

You should also be aware that reliability and relevance can affect one another - if a document has an unreliable source, this should be a factor in determining its relevance.

 

Activity

5. Using the images provided, answer the following questions:

 

	Is this a Primary or Secondary source	Is the evidence reliable? Who produced it or where did it come from?	Is the evidence truthful or trustworthy? Is the information accurate or fact based?	Is it relevant? Is it useful in furthering your understanding of the topic?
Photo # 1
Photo # 2
Photo # 3
Photo # 4