Thinking like a Historian checklist*
Use this checklist as a guide for your students as they examine primary sources.
Historical Thinking Strategy
Strategy Findings
Used
Yes/No
Sourcing: Think about the author, artist, or writer and
the creation of the primary source. Who created it?
When? Why was it created? For what purpose? How
trustworthy is this source?
Contextualizing: Situate the source in time and
place. What major events, themes, or peoples distinguish
the era or period in which the source was created?
Close reading: Carefully consider what the document
says and the language used to say it. Note interesting
words or phrases; consider contextual clues about time,
place, or people; or question facts, opinions, and
perspectives.
Using background knowledge: Use prior knowledge to
read and understand the source. What else do I know
about this topic? What other knowledge can I apply?
Reading the silences: Identify what has been left out or
is missing by asking questions of the source. What do you
not hear or see? What did you expect to see and didn’t?
Why?
Corroborating: Question important details across
multiple sources to determine points of agreement and
disagreement. How can you proceed with your historical
investigation? What other primary sources might
corroborate or refute this interpretation?
*Adapted from Sam Wineburg’s “Thinking Like a Historian” article from Teaching with Primary Sources Quarterly,
Winter 2010.