Louis Gottchalk on Understanding History

Second Day Output #3 (by Mam Faina) 4 June 2018 on Louis Gottchalk, Understanding History chapt 3 and 4

TOPIC AND SUBTOPIC	ARGUMENTS	MAIN THESIS-as successfully established	3 ASSESSMENT TASKS	3 SCORING TOOLS
Meaning of history	“Accounts of phenomena(esp human affairs)that arein chronological order”	History as the study of mankind from past to present	1.Creative group discussion on an important source/eyewitnesses report such as  Pigafetta’s report on the First Mass of the Philippines 2.Product-Output presentation-give a research assignment where they will interview a survivor of the second world war to describe their experiences-who they lived (food, clothing and shelter) and present in class in the form of a video clip. This product would serve as a primary source 3.Special Report or a seminar inviting a practicing historian/writer on his research and writing experience	1.Graded Recitation 2.Checklist e.g Rules in determining reliability 3.Examination on what are primary and secondary courses
“Objectivity” and “subjectivity	To be objective is to be impartial. Historians somehow could be subjective.	It is impossible to capture History in its entirety so it is largely interpretive which is subjective.
Imagination in Historiography	In present history as continuous narrative one need to use imagination	The inevitable gaps in data collecting make it necessary for historians to use logical and credible insertions to fill in these gaps
Artifacts as sources of history	Physical mute sources such as currencies, monuments, need to be mediated with historical interpretations	By giving context to artifacts, the historian makes these alive and relevant to his audience or readers.
Historical method and historiography defined	There should be set of rules to be followed to determine credibility or reliability of sources used	Historiography has evolved as a discipline from the Humanities to the Social sciences in its use of the scientific method i.e. evidence-based
The Document as primary source	Historians should use original documents since these are the most reliable source	Written eyewitnesses accounts are primary sources;  while secondary sources  are not as reliable as primary sources.
Test of authenticity	The use of external and external criticisms determine the authenticity of a source	Writing history should aspire to approximate the truth through the use of reliable sources
What is a Historical fact?	Determination of factuality should pass four tests re-truthfulness,willingness to tell the truth, ability to tell it and independent corroboration	Writing of history should aspire to approximate the truth
Corroboration	Independent corroboration adds to the credibility of a source	Writing of history should aspire to approximate the truth
Certitude versus certainty	Corroboration provides certitude but not certainty	Writing of history should aspire to approximate the truth