A historical source may support only part of a confident claim

Compare the complete sentence with the evidence behind it. Some travellers used a tool should not become everyone used it, and a correct date does not automatically validate every conclusion attached to that date.

Underline the claim. Locate supporting information. Revise overstatement.

Check the scope word by word

'Some travellers used...' should not become 'everyone used...'.

Compare every part of the claim with the evidence. A source supporting one detail may not support the larger conclusion attached to it.

Does the source support the whole claim? Highlight matching phrases.

Omitted qualifiers can change meaning.

Resources

• Interview Someone Special — Adapt the interview prompts with voluntary participation and agreed permissions.

Further reading

• National Museum of Australia — Digital Classroom

Read next

• Different historical accounts can reflect different access to events
• Build a classroom exhibition around a question
• Permission to view is not permission to republish

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