What is History

Recall the Facts
History is what we choose to remember about the past
- Who and what are of value to our collective conscious?
- What are the common experiences that bind us together?
- What are the events and experiences that have separated us?
Interpret
History involved explaining people and events
- You can read the account and illustrate with your own words.
- You can speculate as to the motivations that prompted people to act.
- You can illustrate with pictures and interpret events visually.
Apply
History involves applying the lessons of the past to the present
- History is seen as a dialogue between the past and the present.
- You can personalize the stories and relate your experiences to past events.
- You can hypothesize as to how you would handle a situation from the past.
Analyze
History involves figuring out complicated situations
- What component parts can you identify and make sense of?
- How are the events related?
- What are the similarities and differences, the causes and effect?
Synthesize
History involves making sense out of a jumble of facts
- You can search for the patterns in the story.
- You can speculate, predict, and make generalizations.
- You can draw conclusions.
Evaluate
History involves making judgments about people and events
- You can examine all sides of an issue.
- You can debate the strengths and weaknesses of a position.
- You can judge whether a person, policy, or event measured up to their promise.

Superintendent Arthur O. Jarvis, Ed.D., ajarvis@tacoma.k12.wa.us
Superintendent-Elect (Interim) Carla Santorno, csantor@tacoma.k12.wa.us
Central Administration Building, P.O. Box 1357, Tacoma, WA 98401-1357, 253.571.1000

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