Year 7 History

 What is History?

 

History is the record of past events and times.

 

History is the story of all of us.

 

History is the study of the human past that helps us to understand how people have changed over time.

 

‘History is who we are and why we are the way we are.’                 (David McCullough)

 

‘History is a people's memory…’

  (Malcolm X)

 

Why do we learn about it?

 

History provides a sense of identity and helps explain who I am.

 

History helps us to understand our past and present.

 

Understanding the past is basic for a good understanding of the world in which we live.

 

It helps us to understand the immense complexity of our world and how we came to be like this. 

 

The way in which people interact with one another is by and large a consequence of history, which shapes and conditions individuals.

 

'Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it'

 

How do we learn about history?

Researching

Talking to teachers, family and friends

The internet

Books

Journals and diary entries

Films and documentaries

Museums

 

 

Primary sources

A primary source is a document or physical object which was written or created during the time under study. These sources were present during an experience or time period and offer an inside view of a particular event. Some types of primary sources include:

• ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS (excerpts or translations acceptable): Diaries, speeches, manuscripts, letters, interviews, news film footage, autobiographies, official records 

• CREATIVE WORKS: Poetry, drama, novels, music, art 

• RELICS OR ARTIFACTS: Pottery, furniture, clothing, buildings

 

 

 

 

Secondary sources

Created or written after the time of the event. A secondary source interprets and analyzes primary sources. These sources are one or more steps removed from the event. Secondary sources may have pictures, quotes or graphics of primary sources in them. Some types of seconday sources include:

• PUBLICATIONS: Textbooks, magazine articles, histories, criticisms, commentaries, encyclopedias 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bias

 

What is bias?

 

Bias means having an unfair or unbalanced opinion.

 

History is a subject where people express their opinions, so it is important to watch out for bias.

 

Bias influences our attitudes and behaviours towards other people, places and issues.

 

Our experiences, gender, age, class, religion and values all affect our bias.

 

People who are passionate about an issue will generally be quite overt about their bias.

 

How can we recognise bias?

 

When looking at a source, ask yourself these questions:

 

Who wrote the source?

Who were they writing for? Who is their audience?

Why were they writing the source?

When did they write the source?

 

 

Examples of bias in stories:

 

A Heroic Story

 

A man on a motor bike is riding by the zoo when he sees a little girl leaning into the lion’s enclosure.

Suddenly, the lion grabs her by the cuff of her jacket and tries to pull her inside to slaughter her, under the eyes of her screaming parents.

The man jumps off his bike, runs to the cage, and hits the lion square on the nose with a powerful punch. Whimpering from the pain, the lion jumps back letting go of the girl, and the biker brings her to her terrified parents, who thank him endlessly.

A newspaper reporter has seen the whole scene and, addressing the biker, says, “Sir, this was the most gallant and brave thing I ever saw a man do in my whole life.”

“Why, it was nothing, really, the lion was behind bars. I just saw this little kid in danger, and acted as I felt right.”

“Well, I’ll make sure this won’t go unnoticed. I’m a journalist, you know, and tomorrow’s paper will have this on the first page.  By the way what football team do you support?”

“I’m a Geelong supporter”, he replied. The journalist (a Collingwood supporter) leaves.

The following morning the man buys the newspaper to see if it indeed brings news of his actions, and reads on the front page:

'FOOTBALL HOOLIGAN ASSAULTS AFRICAN IMMIGRANT AND STEALS HIS LUNCH.'

 

 

Obviously this is a joke and is therefore very much exaggerated.  However the journalist did ask for information that had nothing to do with the situation and it so happened to be something which ‘biased’ him against the other man.  From the headline, we have to assume that this information influenced him when he wrote the article.

 

 

 

The Blind Men and the Elephant

 

Six blind men were asked to describe an elephant by touching it.  The first reached up and touched it’s side – “an elephant is like a wall” he stated.  The second then approached it and grasped its tusk.  “What have we here!” he cried, “It is a spear”.

The third man then went up to the elephant and happened to hold onto its trunk.  “Goodness!” he exclaimed, “An elephant is indeed a type of snake”.

At this the fourth man went up and, reaching out his hand, grabbed hold of the elephant’s knee.  “You are all talking nonsense” he declared, “an elephant is just like a tree as I have hold of the tree trunk!”

The fifth then went forward and chanced to touch the elephant’s ear.  “Good gracious” he said, “said; "Even the blindest man could tell that this elephant is just like a fan!”
The sixth man then seized the elephant’s tail “You are all wrong he said, “the elephant is just like a rope!"

They all then started arguing about who was right – each convinced it was them!