Historians actively read sources. When they approach a new piece of evidence they go through a number of processes to assess its validity. They source the source, looking for when and where the evidence dates. They closely read the source, looking at what is being said and what is not being said. They contextualise the source, thinking about the circumstances in which it was created. And they look to corroborate the evidence, cross checking facts with other accounts of the same event. Here students are asked to watch an historian reading a deposition and to practice his approach to reading the document using the processes outlined above.
Classroom set up: designed for a 40 minute class, group work, data projector needed to watch videos, no student computers needed.
Using the depositions to 'read like a historian' - Lesson roadmap
Download Open in BrowserReading like a historian - Student guiding questions
Download Open in BrowserThe deposition of John Greg - Primary document
Download Open in Browser