Unit 1: Think Like a Historian
close reading
Critically examining significant details and language patterns of a text in order to develop a deep understanding of the author's claims or point of view
historical context
the circumstances of the time in which an event occurred or in which an author lived that may have influenced his/her point of view
corroboration
comparing different sources in order to 1) gain a more accurate account of the past, 2) evaluate the validity of a source, and/or 3) consider multiple perspectives
thesis statement
a short statement that summarizes the main point of an essay
secondary source
accounts of events created at a later date and by someone who was not present at the event
contextualizing
taking into consideration how the author was influenced by when and where the document was produced
interpretation
the action of explaining the meaning of something
Sourcing
examining the "who," "what," "when," "where," and "why" of a document
primary source
first-hand accounts of an event created by eyewitnesses or first recorders at the time of the event