WHAT IS HISTORIOGRAPHY?
GRADES: HIGH SCHOOL
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APPROXIMATE LENGTH OF TIME: 2--50 MINUTE SESSIONS​
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SUMMARY:
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This lesson introduces the student to historiography and why it matters. It examines how history is remembered, written about, interpreted, and taught.
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Students will apply knowledge of historiography to be actively informed citizens promoting equity through education.
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LEARNING TARGETS:
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Students will write a summary report defining historiography and how it shapes the way history is written and remembered.
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Students will be able to define what historiography is and how it can shape history over time.
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Materials:​
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Paper and pencil for notes
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PDF--Definition of Historiography or write it on the board
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Computer
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Internet access
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Optional--whiteboard and markers
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Optional--printed copies of the definition of Historiography
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LESSON:
What is History and Historiography?
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1. Before class, write the question "What is history" on the board for students to ponder before the start of the lesson.
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A. Activity--
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i. Define "History"--Ask students to write what they believe history is. In a brief discussion, ask students to agree on a shared definition of history, e.g. the study of the past.
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ii. Ask students where they learned about history.
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*Have students write down where they have learned about history, from whom, and what materials they read, listened to, or viewed (give students approximately 3-4 minutes).
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B. Discussion--
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i. List the students' answers on the board or on paper for the students to see.
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*Ask students where they think their source(s) obtained their information.
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*Ask students if they think how a person's social status, religious or political affiliation influence how they understand and portray history.
C. Summarize--
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i. Summarize the discussion (leaving the student's answers on the board for review), then move to, Defining What Historiography Is, 2.
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2. DEFINING WHAT HISTORIOGRAPHY IS→
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A. Introduce students to the definition of Historiography
i. Project the PDF--Definition of Historiography or write it on the board.
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Historiography--the way historians remember, write about, interpret, and teach specific historical eras and events. This interpretation may change with each generation, in line with the political and cultural concerns of that generation. Historiography is both the writing of history and the study of how history has been written.
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ii. Project the following videos about historiography.
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*Use the following videos to introduce the student to how history is remembered, written about, taught, and interpreted by defining what historiography is and how it can shape perceptions over time.
*Why Study Historiography with Alan Ford
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iii. Ask students how they think about history after reading the definition of historiography and listening to the videos.
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*Example-do they think how history is remembered, written about, and taught is important to understanding America's past and present?
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B. Activity:​
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Worksheet-history/historiography questions: (PDF)
*Project the following questions on the board or print out the (PDF)
i. How does historiography differ from history?
ii. Does historiography influence how we remember historical events? If so, how? If not, why?
iii. What effects does leaving out certain voices have on our understanding of historical events? (the missing voices could include people who could not read or write or Native Peoples).
iv. Do you think it is important to hear the missing voices? Why or why not?
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C. Discussion:
i. Once the students have read the historiography definition and watched the videos have a class discussion about how historians may change how they remember, interpret, and write the history of an era or event from the past based on personal biases (not necessarily negatives but social biases such as upbringing, socioeconomics, etc.).
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*What justification do you think historical authors used in deciding which evidence to give priority that may have influenced their interpretation of history?
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*It is important to remind students that all of these factors shape what history is available to the education system that can influence outcomes for future generations.
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ii. Have a brief discussion about what the difference between history and historiography is and how each affects us today.
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ASSESSMENT IN THIS LESSON:
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1. Informal assessment through class discussion.
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2. Complete worksheet on historiography.
3. A complete summary essay defining historiography and how it shapes the way history is written and remembered.