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Histories that tell the national story, emphasising distinctive features of the national experience, are meant to drive home an understanding of national values and a commitment to national loyalty. Studying History Is Essential for Good Citizenship A study of history is essential for good citizenship. This is the most common justification for the place of history in school curriculum. Sometimes advocates of citizenship history hope merely to promote national identity and loyalty through a history spiced by vivid stories and lessons in individual success and morality. But the importance of history for citizenship goes beyond this. History that lays the foundation for genuine citizenship provides data about the emergence of national institutions, problems, and values. Studying history helps us understand how recent, current, and prospective changes that affect the lives of citizens are emerging or may emerge and what causes are involved. What Skills Does a Student of History Develop? The Ability to Assess Evidence The study of history builds experience in dealing with and assessing various kinds of evidence, the sorts of evidence historians use in shaping the most accurate pictures of the past that they can. Learning how to interpret the statements of past political leaders, which is one kind of evidence, helps form the capacity to distinguish between the objective and the self-serving among statements made by present-day political leaders. See the source image Learning how to combine different kinds of evidence, public statements, private records, numerical data, visual materials, develops the ability to make useful comments and arguments based on a variety of data. This skill can also be applied to information encountered in everyday life. The Ability to Assess Conflicting Interpretations Learning history means gaining some skill in sorting through diverse, often conflicting interpretations. Understanding how societies work, the central goal of historical study, is imprecise, which is no different to what is going on in the present day. Learning how to identify and evaluate conflicting interpretations is an essential skill, which history helps train in. Experience in examining past situations does teach the need for assessing arguments, and it provides opportunities to engage in debate and achieve perspective. Experience in Assessing Past Examples of Change Experience in assessing past examples of change is vital to understanding change in society today. Analysis of change means developing an ability to identify the magnitude and significance of change. Comparing particular changes to relevant examples from the past helps students of history develop this capacity. Historical study provides basic factual information about the background of our political institutions and about the values and problems that affect our social well being. It also contributes to our capacity to use evidence, assess interpretations, and analyse change. History Is Useful in the World of Work Students of history find their experience directly relevant to jobs in a variety of careers as well as to further study in fields like law and public administration. Employers often deliberately seek students with the kinds of capacities historical study promotes. They develop research skills, the ability to find and evaluate sources of information, and the means to identify and evaluate diverse interpretations. Work in history also improves basic writing and speaking skills and is directly relevant to many of the analytical requirements in the public and private sectors. Performing a Historical Inquiry What is a Historical Inquiry? History provides us a way of thinking about the past. The use of historical inquiry shows a way to inquire into, organise and explain events that have happened. Historical inquiry is the process of “doing history”. It is a cyclical process that begins with the asking of guiding historical questions. This is followed by locating and analysing historical sources to establish historical evidence. The historical evidence is then used to construct historical interpretations that seek to answer the guiding historical questions. How to Carry out a Historical Inquiry The use of historical inquiry is thus at the heart of history instruction and learning, and you should learn the skills required through practice and engagement in historical inquiry. This can be done by following the following steps: Step 1: Background Research/Tuning In This is initial research, preliminary research, and background research. Research using reliable sources to gain a basic/fundamental understanding of your overall topic. Once you have finished this, choose an area of interest or something that you want to know more on and write a key inquiry question that you will aim to answer by the end of the investigation/inquiry. E.g., What medicines were used during the Black Death and how did they impact society? This video will help you write a good key inquiry question: Step 2: Finding Out/Research Phase This is the comprehensive research phase. You start by researching key words from your key inquiry question and taking notes. Remember to use reliable sources, and a combination of primary and secondary. At this step, it may be useful to create some sub-inquiry questions so you can answer your key inquiry questions completely. For example: What were the symptoms of the Black Death? Who was impacted by the Black Death and what role did they play within society? Who administered the medicines and what training did they have? Remember that: Primary sources were found or written at the time in history when the event occurred, e.g., data records, photographs, artist interpretations/paintings, legal documents, eyewitness accounts, artefacts, etc. Secondary sources are pieces of information that have been written/created, after the event. Often secondary sources interpret or analyse a primary source E.g., textbooks, information books, journal articles, websites, etc. Watch this video to help you distinguish between primary and secondary sources: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=primary+secondary+sources Step 3: Sorting Out/Key Findings When going over your research, you need to determine the answer the following questions: What information answers my overall question? What areas should I explore further? Ideas to assist with this include highlighting (two colours), use of mind maps, summarising information, have a go at answering your key inquiry question, etc. Step 4: Going Further/Clarification This is where you research and clarify those areas that need to be explored further. What areas have you not covered in enough detail? What topics/subtopics are still confusing you or that you still do not understand? Find other sources to do this or re-read your previous sources to ensure you gathered all important information. Step 5: Making Conclusions/Writing Component Final step! Synthesise the information and understanding you have developed by writing a hypothesis. This is an argument that you will prove by explaining the information and referencing your sources. E.g., Some beliefs and opinions during the Black Death around treatment were overly religious and suspicious, yet the use of medicines proved just as ineffective as society was impacted greatly.