Course Review

The Steps of the Historical Method

1. Strong Research Question

2. Conduct Research

3. Source Critique

4. Contextualizing

5. Historical Interpretation

6. Writing (& Presenting)

Historiography

• The study of historical writing 

  • Or, as I like to put it, the study of the study of history

• Do not confuse with the historical method

• Historiography revolves around examining how historians conduct research

  • The Historical Method is how historians collect and analyze sources to add to current historical understanding

• A well chosen topic can define your research

• When choosing a topic, leverage your existing knowledge and consider your academic and personal interests

• Follow the Broad to Narrow Approach

  • Start with a broad historical discussion and narrow down to a specific topic

• Focus on relevance and feasibility

• Primary sources are the first hand accounts of the historical event your wish to research

• Primary sources will, mostly, be found in archives or special collections

• Use secondary sources to come up with keywords and search terms that relate to your specific topic

  • You can use these keywords and search terms when using online databases to search for sources in archives

• There are physical archives but many are digitizing their sources

• Begin by asking a series of questions to see what details of your sources will help in the construction of an argument

• Compare primary sources with secondary sources to find their historical context

• Track your research (in a research log or another medium)

• Do not place too much emphasis on a single source

• Never ignore context or cherry-pick evidence

• Make sure you are aware of any biases in your sources

• History essays center around structured arguments about historical topics

• The argument can and will be backed by evidence (sources)

• Remember CER: Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning

• Always cite your sources

• Be sure to avoid Presentism

Parts of the Essay

1. Thesis Statement (most important)

2. Evidence, followed by Analysis

3. Historiography (not always necessary)

4. Structure

• Thesis Statements are always:

  • Defensible

  • Specific

  • Evidence-Based

  • Significant

Big 3 (My Suggestions on Writing a Thesis)

1. Acknowledge current historical understanding

2. Explain how your argument with impact said understanding

3. Establish a line of reasoning

Steps Towards a Strong Thesis

1. Preliminary Research

2. Strong Research Question

3. Primary Source Collection

4. First Draft of Thesis Statement

5. Refine your Thesis