This document provides guidance on critically analyzing news and information sources to draw your own conclusions about history. It outlines a three stage process: 1) Investigating current events carefully by identifying facts and opinions, questioning potential biases, and considering multiple perspectives; 2) Analyzing events critically by applying a set of "Big Ten Questions" about source credibility and considering one's own biases; 3) Breaking down arguments by identifying the main argument, supporting reasons, evidence, and significance. The overall goal is for readers to thoughtfully evaluate information by questioning sources and perspectives rather than passively accepting a single narrative.

1. Fact or
Fiction?
Critically analyzing the latest news and
primary sources so you can draw your
own conclusions about history

2. Where we begin...

3. Historiography: Our Goal

4. Big Ten Questions
•When was it created?
•Who created it?
•Why was it created? What were their ideological needs
and social purposes?
•What was/is the intended audience?
•Did the intended audience include powerful people and
institutions?

5. Big Ten Questions
•Who is left out? What points of view go largely unheard?
How could the story differ if a different group had told it?
•Are there problematic words or symbols that would not
have been used today or by an author from another social
group?
•How is received? Is it largely forgotten? Remembered?
•What does it leave out about the people it treats as
heroes?
•Is the presentation accurate? What do other sources—
primary as well as secondary— say?

6. STAGE 1: Investigating
Current Events Carefully
Fact?
• Using a highlighter,
underline any facts that
you find in the article that
are supported by common
knowledge, statistics and
real stories
• Who, What, When,
Where, Why, and How
Opinion? /Fiction?
• With a pen, underline any
opinions that come from
an organization or person
• Why is this opinion in the
article?
• Does the article opinions
from multiple sides?

7. QUESTION EVERYTHING!
• What are your thoughts about this issue?
• As you create an opinion, how do you support yourself?
• What questions arise that were not addressed in the article?
• What bias might the author have?
• How might their experience shape their opinion?
• Go back to the BIG 10 Questions!
STAGE 2: Analyzing Current
Events Critically

8. STAGE 3: Breaking down
A(argument) R(reasons)E(evidence)S(significance)
• A: What is the argument of the article?
• R: What are the author’s reasons?
• E: Is there real evidence to support? Is the evidence true
and reliable? What sources?
• S: Why is this argument and evidence important or
significant to society? What do you think about the
argument? Does the evidence and reasoning convince
you?