History is much more than a list of dates, names, and places. Examining our histories helps us understand how the past connects to our present and what it means to be human. It allows us to make better decisions about our futures. History also provides us with very practical skills that are useful in any profession, such as determining the credibility of information, conducting research, and asking critical questions. Initiate your journey into themes within World History by selecting a topic of interest, conducting preliminary research, and crafting a focused research question.
Once we have a research question, our next step is to find one primary source, and two secondary sources to contribute to the chosen topic. This step will be completed in another Journal and will culminate in the submission of a slide presentation. This slide presentation will count as our final exam, and will be provided in the same format as most of the chapter slide presentations have been provided throughout the course.
Purpose:
This assignment is all about diving into World history. We want to show you why it’s important to understand the past, how it relates to today, and how to think critically and do research. You’ll get to pick a topic you find interesting, do some initial research, and come up with a clear question to explore. This will help you learn about history while also improving your basic academic skills.
Further Research
Topic Selection:
Based on the topic you chose from the list of sample research topics and the feedback provided in Journal 1’s submission, the task is to continue researching to find supporting evidence of your research question. Primary documents, journal articles, and monographs are great sources that you can find through the library, or ask the Research LibrariansLinks to an external site.Links to an external site.Links to an external site. for help.
For this journal you will be focusing your research on Primary Documents.
What is a Primary Source?
Primary sources are firsthand accounts or direct evidence concerning a topic, event, or individual. They offer insights because they come from individuals who directly experienced, witnessed, or documented the events or phenomena in question. Characteristics of primary sources include:
Proximity in Time: Created at or near the time of the event.
Firsthand Accounts: Records created by direct witnesses or participants.
Official Documents: Treaties, laws, and other government documents.
Visual and Audio Materials: Photographs, paintings, recordings.
Artifacts: Physical objects from a specific time period.
Examples of Primary Sources:
Diaries and journals
Letters and correspondence
Interviews and oral histories
Treaties, laws, and constitutions
Photographs and paintings
Physical artifacts, like tools or clothing
Oral histories
Instructions:
Search for a Primary Source:
Links to an external site.Fordham University Internet History Sourcebooks ProjectLinks to an external site.
The Avalon ProjectLinks to an external site.
Perseus Digital LibraryLinks to an external site.
World History Encyclopedia: Primary SourcesLinks to an external site.
Euro DocsLinks to an external site.
World Digital LibraryLinks to an external site.
Links to an external site.
Using the topic and research question from Journal 1, search for a relevant primary source. This could be in online archives, digital libraries, the library, or museums.
Analyze Your Source:
Author: Identify the author or creator of the source.
Background/credentials: Research their background: personal, political, religious, or cultural affiliations.
How might these backgrounds have influenced the creation of the source or introduced biases?
Description: What type of source is it (e.g., letter, newspaper article, painting)?
Content Summary: Summarize its content. What is the main message or information conveyed?
Contextual Analysis: Relate the source to your chosen topic. How does it fit with your initial findings? Given the author’s background and potential biases, could the source be interpreted differently?
Citation:
Ensure you cite the primary source using Chicago Manual of Style, Notes/Bibliography CMOS format.
You may want to practice Primary Document Analysis – before submitting this assignment, go here: Primary Document Analysis. “History Skills Tutorial: Analyzing Images,” and/or “History Skills Tutorial: Analyzing Maps” Of course if your primary document is a map or a piece of art, there are other aspects you need to consider. Click the links if this is the case.
What to submit:
Research Question: This can be the same research question you wrote for Journal 1, but it’s okay if it’s changed a little to reflect your further research.
Selected Primary Source with a written analysis (see above)
How did you locate this primary source?
Description: What type of source is it (e.g., letter, newspaper article, painting)?
Content Summary: Summarize its content. What is the main message or information conveyed?
Contextual Analysis: Relate the source to your chosen topic. How does it fit with your initial findings? Given the author’s background and potential biases, could the source be interpreted differently?
CMOS citation and use this CMOS Template Download CMOS Template.
