Year 8 HistoryMedieval Europe Term 3

Today we will focus on: Writing and using focus questions Identifying keywords Recognising and using primary and

secondary sources Choosing relevant sources Note-taking tips Bibliographies

Responding to the task – Use focus questions to guide your research

What are my two main focus questions?1. What do the primary sources reveal

about change and continuity? 2. What do historians (secondary sources) reveal about change and continuity?

Write some follow up questions to further explore this idea? For example:

What were communities like in the early middle ages?

What development later occurred in towns and cities?

Ask: What are the keywords in the main focus question below?

What do the primary sources reveal about change and continuity?

primary sources – check that source is first hand

change and continuity – look for things that stay the same or change

Ask: What are the keywords in the follow up questions below?

What were communities like in the early middle ages?

• Define communities – manor, landholding

What development occurred?• Define development – new ideas, new

activities, new methods, new inventions, new designs, new behaviours, new values, new beliefs

Choosing sources:Is the source primary or secondary?

Primary and secondary sources provide different perspectives and interpretations on information.

It is important to use both primary and secondary sources as evidence in your arguments.

What is a primary source? Provides first hand ‘you are there’

information. For example: letters, newspapers,

artifacts

Darlington, R. (2012). [image]. History alive for the Australian Curriculum. Brisbane: John Wiley & Sons.

What is a secondary source? Provides second hand information. They

are written after an event and provide an overview or interpretation.

For example: documentaries, encyclopedias, textbooks, commentaries

Gies, J. & F. (2010). Life in a medieval castle. Australia: Harper Collins

Choosing sources:Is the source relevant? Does the source contain information

RELEVANT to the focus questions?

Can I find the keywords in the text? • Title• Contents page• Index• Skim over headings in key chapters• Scan sections for key words

Note-taking Tips High-light or underline significant words Use bullet points - key points in a nutshell or a

brief summary Use keywords as headings Use abbreviations Omit irrelevant information For images – describe briefly what you see

Do not copy and paste Do not write full sentences

Primary Source Example A medieval artist’s impression of life on

a feudal manor in early medieval period

Saldais, M. et al. (2012). Oxford Big Ideas History 8 Australian Curriculum Student Book. Melbourne: Oxford University Press

Your turn In bullet point notes, briefly describe what

you see in the previous primary source using the follow up question:

What were communities like in the early middle ages?• Lord oversees the peasants• Peasants depend on lord • Low density population• Agricultural commerce• Central manor house in rural area

Secondary Source Example An historian’s interpretation of the

development of towns and cities

Saldais, M. et al. (2012). Oxford Big Ideas History 8 Australian Curriculum Student Book. Melbourne: Oxford University Press

Your turn In bullet point notes, respond to the previous

secondary source using the follow up question:

What development later occurred in towns and cities?• Towns began to emerge• Threat of barbarian raids decreased• Towns grew to cities• Peasants became artisans• Artisans organised guilds• Townspeople increased independence• Growth of trade and commerce

Record the bibliographic details of your sources: Book requires:

Author Year published Title Place published Publisher

Saldais, M. et al. (2012). Oxford Big Ideas History 8 Australian Curriculum Student Book. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.