Historical Thinking Terms
Historical Skills
Vocabulary
HTS Questions to Ask
CER
100

anything that provides information about the past 

Source

100

Who wrote/said/ created this? 

Sourcing

100

What I can conclude or assume from this evidence, even if it doesn't explicitly say or show it

Inference

100

Before reading the document, ask yourself:

- Who wrote this?

- What is the author's perspective?

- Why was it written?

- When was it written?

- Where was it written?

- Is it reliable? Why/Why not?

Sourcing

100

People in Jamestown died due lack of preparedness  and poor location. 

claim 

200

a strong opinion that is based more on emotion than in evidence.

Bias

200

how my evidence proves my answer (claim)

Reasoning

200

the process of how events that led to an event, led to another event; includes the time period and larger historical trends 


Causation (cause and effect)

200

What claims does the author make?

What evidence does the author use?

What language does the author use to persuade the document's audience?

How does the document's language indicate the author's perspective?

Close Reading

200

Explains how your evidence proves your claim to be true, connects evidence back to the claim.

Reasoning

300

source that was created AT THE TIME being studied (first hand account)

primary source

300

My answer to the historical question

Claim

300

To examine or judge carefully to make a determination 

Evaluate

300

When and where was the document created?

What was different then? What was the same?

How might the circumstances in which the document was created affect its content?

Contextualization

300

The Middle Colonies are the best region to settle in because it has religious tolerance and prominent trade. 

claim

400

 source that was created AFTER THE TIME being studied (second hand account.)

Secondary source

400

comparing information by two sources to find similarities (does another source agree?)

Corroborate

400

Another word for proof or facts


Evidence

400

What do other documents say?

Do the documents agree? If not, why?

What are other possible documents?

What documents are most reliable?

Corroboration

400

According to the chart is document b, Jamestown colony suffered a period of drought for roughly 5 years after settling. 

Evidence

500

The way someone sees an issue.  This can be shaped by life experience and motives, race, ethnicity, nationality, class, ideas, gender, and other factors.


Point of View or Perspective

500

What was happening when this was written? 

contextualization

500

the act of describing where an event took place, what led to it, and why (think setting)


contextualize

500

What is a person who gives information that can be accepted as accurate/trustworthy when describing an event, policy or situation. 


Reliable

500

A claim should directly answer the question/ prompt? True or False. 

True