Remember
September 11
(9-12)
Historical
Perspectives
(n32)
Subject
Social
studies
Objective
Students
will examine how historical sources do not always
report events in exactly the same way, students
will understand the importance of evaluating internet
sources.
Time
Needed
One
to two class periods
Materials
Access
to internet or library with many periodical sources
Lesson
In
groups of two, students will be assigned to find
3 articles that deal with the same events of September
11. The three articles must come from three different
sources. For example, students should find an
article from Time, Newsweek and U.S. News and
World Report. Students should read the articles
and write responses to the following questions:
* What is the basic tone of each article? In other
words, how would you characterize the author’s
attitude towards the subject? Is he or she sympathetic,
sarcastic, matter of fact, etc?
* What are five points on which all three articles
agree, where the information is identical?
* What are five points in which there is not agreement
in all three articles?
* What is the conclusion of each article? Are
the conclusions the same or different
* What well-known people are quoted in the articles?
Are any people quoted in all three articles?
* What everyday people are quoted in the articles?
Are any of these people quoted in all three articles?
As a large groups discuss findings. Consider the
following:
* If there are discrepancies in the reporting,
how do we know which is the accurate history?
* What can we do to evaluate or assess the sources
we use the learn history?
* What are the implications of this activity as
we read the textbook this year?
* What is history?