28 Sep Activity: Historical Interpretations of Past and Present Overview Over the past few weeks, you have examined how context, perspective, and bias impact what we know about history and how we talk about it

5-2 Activity: Historical Interpretations of Past and Present

Overview

Over the past few weeks, you have examined how context, perspective, and bias impact what we know about history and how we talk about it. You also started to make connections between your research question, historical event, and current event. In this activity, you will build upon that work to consider the historical roots of your current event and what the narratives would be like if told from a different perspective.

Prompt

Use the provided Module Five Activity Template: Historical Interpretations Word Document to complete this activity. First, you will reflect on the process of researching the subject of your historical research question and its connection to your current event. You will then consider the impact of bias on our existing knowledge. Finally, you will address how the narratives about your historical and current events would change if told from alternative viewpoints.

Specifically, you must address the following rubric criteria:

• Describe how exploring your research question improved your understanding of the historical roots of your current event.

o How did learning more about the subject of your research question help you identify events from the past that contributed or led up to your current event?

• Explain how biased perspectives influence what is known about both your historical and current events.

o Support your points with relevant course resources.

• Propose how the narrative about your historical event might change if it were told from a missing perspective.

o Refer to the missing perspective you identified in this week’s discussion. How might this point of view change the story about your historical event? For example, would the narrative focus on different details, or would those details be interpreted differently?

• Propose how the narrative about your current event might change if it were told from a missing perspective.

o Expand on the missing perspective from criteria three and apply it to your current event. How might your current event be understood differently by examining it from that perspective?

Guidelines for Submission

Submit the Module Five Activity Template: Historical Interpretations.  Sources should be cited according to APA style. Consult the Shapiro Library APA Style Guide for more information on citations.