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HISTORIAN’S HANDBOOK
The historian’s handbook will help you to become familiar with the skills needed to study
historical evidence, to interpret it, and to make judgements. In other words you will be
asked to do the detective side of history.
A) FACTS, INFERENCE, OPINION AND THESIS
Historians act like detectives to find all the related evidence. They wonder if the evidence
is fact or inference. Historians then interpret the evidence to avoid simply stating
opinions to ensure that their arguments are valid. When there is enough evidence
historians can draw conclusions. They conclude by putting forth a thesis or main idea and
provide evidence to support their thesis.
Definition
Examples
Facts
Inference
Opinion
Thesis
B) STARTING A HISTORICAL INVESTIGATION: ASKING QUESTIONS
Who?
What?
Where?
When?
Why?
How?
Information/Research Questions:
When you start to investigate a historical topic, you may start with informational or
research questions like: Who was involved in this event? What happened? Where did the
event take place? When did this event occur? These are questions that can be answered
by conducting research using quality resources like books, articles and websites.
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Inquiry Questions:
Once you have gathered some general information, you might ask more inquiry-type
questions like: Why did the event happen? How did this event/action impact Canada?
These are more complex, in-depth questions that require you to draw upon your
knowledge of the topic. The answers to these questions are not easily found in books,
articles or websites. Rather, you are required to make inferences and draw conclusions
based on the facts you have gathered. These questions usually require a paragraph
response.
C) EVIDENCE FROM THE PAST
Historians reconstruct events from surviving evidence. They use both primary and
secondary sources. Historians must be very careful to ensure that the information they
obtain is reliable.
Definition
Examples
Primary Evidence
Secondary Evidence
Reliability
D) TELLING THE STORY
Historians are also story tellers. In order to be a good story teller, historians need to
connect all of the evidence. Stories are usually told in chronological order so that we
can more easily follow a story and understand the cause and effects of a particular event.
Major events in history are called defining moments.
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Definition
Example
Chronology
Cause and Effect
Defining Moments
HISTORIAN’S CHALLENGE #1: IDENTIFY FACT AND OPINION
For each of the following pairs of statements, select the one that states a fact and identify
how the fact could be proved. For the statement that is an opinion circle the word that
indicates it is an opinion.
1. A) Montreal is delightful city, especially in the winter.
B) Montreal is the largest city in Canada.
FACT
FACT
OPINION
OPINION
How could you “prove” the factual statement? _________________________________
2. A) Last year in Grade 10 History I earned an A+.
FACT
B) My history teacher is the best teacher I have ever had! FACT
OPINION
OPINION
How could you “prove” the factual statement? _________________________________
3. A) A British ship called the Lusitania was sunk by FACT
German submarines in 1915.
B) Germany ruthlessly attacked the Lusitania.
FACT
OPINION
OPINION
How could you “prove” the factual statement? _________________________________
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HISTORIAN’S CHALLENGE #2: FACT, OPINION, INFERENCE
Identify the following, as either: fact, opinion, or inference.
1. The peace settlement after the first world war was so harsh on Germany that it
angered Germans for the next 20 years and may have contributed to the start of
the second world war.
FACT
OPINION
INFERENCE
2. The Treaty of Versailles required Germany to pay heavy fines to Britain, France,
and Russia after the first world war.
FACT
OPINION
INFERENCE
3. Germany’s punishment after the second world war was unfair and harsh.
FACT
OPINION
INFERENCE
HISTORIAN’S CHALLENGE #3: RELIABILITY
How do we know what really happened? You are a judge in the following civil case
between Justin and Doug. Read the information below and record your answers to the
questions related to the case.
1. Justin’s father’s testimony: “This big boy was hitting my boy. Justin hit him in the
face and made this boy’s nose bleed. Justin did the right thing.”
2. Doug’s father’s testimony: “Doug knocked that wicked kid down with one punch
as the other kid started to fight.”
3. The testimony of a neighbour who saw the fight: “The two boys were fighting.
Justin hit Doug. Doug’s nose bled. Doug punched Justin and Justin fell to the
ground.”
QUESTIONS:
1. Which of the witnesses is believable? Rate them in order of reliability from the
most to the least. Give reasons for your answer.
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2. Which of the three sources are primary? Why?
3. What are the facts in the case?
4. What are some examples of “loaded” language, that is , words that reflect bias or
certain judgements?
HISTORIAN’S CHALLENGE #4: LOOKING AT SOURCES
Your teacher has given you a history project that requires you to research at least two
primary sources. You decided to do your project on the conditions for Asian immigrants
to Canada at the beginning of the 20th century. Unfortunately, you left your research until
very late. It is the night before the first draft is due and apart from the textbook notes, you
only have two other sources; (1) an account from the Vancouver Sun, 1907 and (2)
information from an interview that you did with the granddaughter of a Chinese
immigrant who came to Canada in 1907 about her grandfather’s life.
Have you fulfilled the minimum requirements of the assignments? (Do you have a least
two primary sources?)
Explain your answer:
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HISTORIAN’S CHALLENGE #5: RELIABILITY OF SOURCES
Rank the three sources according to their reliability. 1 for the most reliable and 3 for the
least reliable. Be prepared to explain your choice.
Item 1: Canada’s participation in the Gulf War of 1991.
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A movie released in the theatres on the Gulf War
The diary of the general in charge of Canadian forces
American newspaper reports on the Gulf War
Item 2: Current Living Conditions in China

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CBC documentary on China
Chinese government documentary just released
Memoirs of Mao Tsetung (former leader of China)
Item 3: Devastation caused by the atomic bomb on Hiroshima in 1945

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A novel set in Hiroshima in which the character saves many lives
The memoirs of the bomber pilot written in the 1980’s
A documentary film made in Holland from available photographs and intervies
with survivors