Meaning and relevance of history,

distinction of primary and

secondary sources
The students shall be able to:

Evaluate primary sources for their credibility, authenticity,

and provenance
Questions:
1. What do you know about your history?

2. Why do you need to study history?

Meaning and relevance of history

 History helps us develop a better understanding of the world.

◦ You can’t build a framework on which to base your life without understanding how things
work in the world. History paints us a detailed picture of how society, technology, and
government worked way back when so that we can better understand how it works now. It
also helps us determine how to approach the future, as it allows us to learn from our past
mistakes (and triumphs) as a society.

History helps us understand ourselves.

◦ To understand who you are, you need to develop a sense of self. A large part of that is
learning where you fit into the story of your country or the global community in the grand
scheme of things. History tells you the story of how your nation, city, or community came to
be everything that it is. It tells you where your ancestors came from and tells you who they
were. Most importantly of all, it gives you the ability to spot (and appreciate) the legacies
you may have inherited from them.
Meaning and relevance of history
History helps us learn to understand other people.
◦ History isn’t just an essential introduction to your own country, ethnic heritage, and ancestry.
It’s also a valuable tool when it comes to understanding those who are different from us.
Global, national, and regional history books help us understand how other cultures affect our
own.
◦ They encourage us to develop a greater appreciation for multicultural influences within our
own communities as well – exactly why everyone should study African American history,
immigrant history, and so forth, regardless of their own cultural background.
Meaning and relevance of history
History teaches a working understanding of change.
◦ It goes without saying that change can be a difficult concept to understand. Each of us has a
different experience with the rest of the world – an experience shaped by societal norms,
cultural differences, personal experiences, and more. We know when we as individuals crave
change and why. History helps us better understand how, when, and why change occurs (or
should be sought) on a larger scale.

History gives us the tools we need to be decent citizens.

◦ Good citizens are always informed citizens, and no one can consider himself to be an
informed citizen without a working knowledge of history. This is the case whether we’re
talking about our role in our community or in regard to our nation on the whole. History
helps us become better voters and more effective members of any type of society. It helps
put us in a position to better inform others as well.
Meaning and relevance of history
History makes us better decision makers.
◦ “Those that do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.” Those words were first spoken by
George Santayana, and they are still very relevant today because of how true they are. History
gives us the opportunity to learn from past mistakes. It helps us understand the many reasons
why people may behave the way they do. As a result, it helps us become more compassionate as
people and more impartial as decision makers. Our judicial system is a perfect example of this
concept at work.

History helps us develop a new level of appreciation for just about everything.
◦ History is more than just the living record of nations, leaders, and wars. It’s also the story of us.
It’s packed with tales of how someone stood up for what they believed in, or died for love, or
worked hard to make their dreams come true. All of those things are concepts we can relate to;
it’s enriching to know that so could the likes of Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, or Martin
Luther King.
Distinction Of Primary And
Secondary Sources;
Primary sources
Primary sources are firsthand, contemporary accounts of events
created by individuals during that period of time or several years
later (such as correspondence, diaries, memoirs and personal
histories). These original records can be found in several media such
as print, artwork, and audio and visual recording. Examples of
primary sources include manuscripts, newspapers, speeches,
cartoons, photographs, video, and artifacts. Primary sources can be
described as those sources that are closest to the origin of the
information. They contain raw information and thus, must be
interpreted by researchers.
Primary sources
Primary sources were either created during the time period being
studied or were created at a later date by a participant in the events
being studied (as in the case of memoirs). They reflect the individual
viewpoint of a participant or observer. Primary sources enable the
researcher to get as close as possible to what actually happened
during an historical event or time period.
Primary sources
Examples of a primary source are:
Original documents such as diaries,
speeches, manuscripts, letters, interviews,
records, eyewitness accounts,
autobiographies.
Empirical scholarly works such as research
articles, clinical reports, case studies,
dissertations.
Creative works such as poetry, music, video,
photography.
Secondary sources
Secondary sources are closely related to primary sources and often
interpret them. These sources are documents that relate to information
that originated elsewhere. Secondary sources often use generalizations,
analysis, interpretation, and synthesis of primary sources.
A secondary source is a work that interprets or analyzes an historical
event or phenomenon. It is generally at least one step removed from
the event is often based on primary sources.

 Examples of secondary sources include textbooks, articles, and reference books.

 Secondary sources
Examples of secondary sources include:
● journal articles that comment on or analyze research.
● textbooks.
● dictionaries and encyclopedias.
● books that interpret, analyze.
● political commentary.
● biographies.
● dissertations.
● newspaper editorial/opinion pieces.
What are the historical events in the country
that you think is a lie or untrue? Why?

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-46185620
Activity
Direction: Answer the following questions briefly in your Edmodo
classroom.

1. Differentiate the primary source and secondary source.

2. What is/are external criticism and internal criticism? How can they
help for the validity of the history/events in the past?
Activity

We cannot deny the fact that your generation is too much attached
to social media where everything can be seen; from entertainment,
economics, politics, etc. Whenever you see a news or anything that
is against your belief, how do you react, and what do you usually do