Typical components of history course |
100 Level [Comprehend/ Recognize] |
200 Level [Interpret/Apply] |
300 Level [Explain/Evaluate] |
400 Level
[Create] |
1. Understanding the nature of the historical
discipline and analysis
Operations commonly required for this component & assessment |
Learn the interpretive nature of the historical
discipline |
Illustrate how historians make interpretations of the
past using primary and secondary sources. |
Appraise historical interpretations |
Synthesize multiple
historical interpretations |
2. Dealing with evidence: Primary sources
Operations commonly required for this component & assessment |
Learn how to analyze/learn to question a primary
source |
Interpret the human
agency within the context of how an artifact from the past was produced. |
Evaluate trustworthiness
of sources and contrast diverse and conflicting primary sources |
Develop relationships
among multiple sources |
3. Dealing with evidence: Secondary sources
Operations commonly required for this component & assessment |
Identify author’s arguments |
Distinguish between an
author’s main arguments and secondary points. |
Evaluate author’s argument and evidence |
Synthesize issues in
scholarly writings |
4. Dealing with evidence: Textbooks
Operations commonly required for this component & assessment |
Summarize important themes and supporting details |
Dissect the textbook and connect it to major course
themes. |
Use the textbook to contextualize other scholarly
writings |
Textbook is used only to
understand broader contextual issues, not as a source |
5. Constructing and evaluating arguments
Operations commonly required for this component & assessment |
Recognize broad arguments |
Produce arguments based on primary and secondary
documents. |
Produce arguments based on evidence to address
historical problems, imagine counter-arguments, and develop own voice |
Develop an argument based
on original research |
6. Conducting historical research
Operations commonly required for this component & assessment |
Practice all other 100-level skills to prep for doing
research |
Practice all other
100-level skills to prep for doing research. |
Learn to find scholarly
articles, books and primary sources |
Select problem of study
and find appropriate resources |
7. Writing for history
Operations commonly required for this component & assessment |
Develop thesis statement supported by evidence |
Further develop skill of producing clear arguments
supported by evidence. |
Create an argument, marshal evidence and use
endnotes, footnotes, and bibliography |
Writing historically,
employ appropriate use of a citation style |