Name: Renard John R.

Esquivel

Section: SBENT1E

Subject: Reading in Philippine History Subject Professor: Mrs. Rina Palmiano

Lesson:

What is History?

History examines past events, processes and structures by asking a series of questions
from the perspective of the present. History gains its understanding of the past by analyzing
sources and by engaging with existing research. By reconstructing the historicity of social
and cultural phenomena, history offers us an insight into the scope of human agency and the
formability of present and future. The aim here is not to generate a definitive canon of
knowledge, but instead to keep on asking new questions of the past and to attempt to answer
these by engaging with existing knowledge. The questions which historians ask and the
manner in which they go about investigating these always reflect their own theoretical
assumptions about how human societies and cultures function. As such, history students are
expected to engage critically with a wide variety of theories and methods.

Why Is History Important And How Can It Benefit Your Future?

Why Study History: The Importance

History is important to study because it is essential for all of us in understanding ourselves

and the world around us. There is a history of every field and topic, from medicine, to music,
to art. To know and understand history is absolutely necessary, even though the results of
historical study are not as visible, and less immediate.

Allows You to Comprehend More

1. Our World

History gives us a very clear picture of how the various aspects of society — such as
technology, governmental systems, and even society as a whole — worked in the past so we
understand how it came to work the way it is now.
2. Society and Other People

Studying history allows us to observe and understand how people and societies behaved. For
example, we are able to evaluate war, even when a nation is at peace, by looking back at
previous events. History provides us with the data that is used to create laws, or theories
about various aspects of society.

3. Identity

History can help provide us with a sense of identity. This is actually one of the main reasons
that history is still taught in schools around the world. Historians have been able to learn
about how countries, families, and groups were formed, and how they evolved and developed
over time. When an individual takes it upon themselves to dive deep into their own family’s
history, they can understand how their family interacted with larger historical change. Did
family serve in major wars? Were they present for significant events?

4. Present-Day Issues

History helps us to understand present-day issues by asking deeper questions as to why things
are the way they are. Why did wars in Europe in the 20th century matter to countries around
the world? How did Hitler gain and maintain power for as long as he had? How has this had
an effect on shaping our world and our global political system today?

5. The Process of Change over Time

If we want to truly understand why something happened — in any area or field, such as one
political party winning the last election versus the other, or a major change in the number of
smokers — you need to look for factors that took place earlier. Only through the study of
history can people really see and grasp the reasons behind these changes, and only through
history can we understand what elements of an institution or a society continue regardless of
continual change.

You Learn a Clear Lesson

1. Political Intelligence

History can help us become better informed citizens. It shows us who we are as a collective
group, and being informed of this is a key element in maintaining a democratic society. This
knowledge helps people take an active role in the political forum through educated debates
and by refining people’s core beliefs. Through knowledge of history, citizens can even
change their old belief systems.
2. History Teaches Morals and Values

By looking at specific stories of individuals and situations, you can test your own morals and
values. You can compare it to some real and difficult situations individuals have had to face
in trying times. Looking to people who have faced and overcome adversity can be inspiring.
You can study the great people of history who successfully worked through moral dilemmas,
and also ordinary people who teach us lessons in courage, persistence and protest.

3. Builds Better Citizenship

The study of history is a non-negotiable aspect of better citizenship. This is one of the main
reasons why it is taught as a part of school curricula. People that push for citizenship history
(relationship between a citizen and the state) just want to promote a strong national identity
and even national loyalty through the teaching of lessons of individual and collective success.

4. Learn From the Past and Notice Clear Warning Signs

We learn from past atrocities against groups of people; genocides, wars, and attacks. Through
this collective suffering, we have learned to pay attention to the warning signs leading up to
such atrocities. Society has been able to take these warning signs and fight against them when
they see them in the present day. Knowing what events led up to these various wars helps us
better influence our future.

5. Gaining a Career through History

The skills that are acquired through learning about history, such as critical thinking, research,
assessing information, etc., are all useful skills that are sought by employers. Many
employers see these skills as being an asset in their employees and will hire those with
history degrees in various roles and industries.

6. Personal Growth and Appreciation

Understanding past events and how they impact the world today can bring about empathy and
understanding for groups of people whose history may be different from the mainstream. You
will also understand the suffering, joy, and chaos that were necessary for the present day to
happen and appreciate all that you are able to benefit from past efforts today.

Develop and Refine your Skills through Studying History

1. Reading and Writing

You can refine your reading skills by reading texts from a wide array of time periods.
Language has changed and evolved over time and so has the way people write and express
themselves. You can also refine your writing skills through learning to not just repeat what
someone else said, but to analyze information from multiple sources and come up with your
own conclusions. It’s hitting two birds with one stone — better writing and critical thinking!

2. Craft Your Own Opinions

There are so many sources of information out in the world. Finding a decisive truth for many
topics just doesn’t exist. What was a victory for one group was a great loss for another — you
get to create your own opinions of these events.

3. Decision-Making

History gives us the opportunity to learn from others’ past mistakes. It helps us understand
the many reasons why people may behave the way they do. As a result, it helps us become
more impartial as decision-makers.

4. How to Do Research

In the study of history you will need to conduct research. This gives you the opportunity to
look at two kinds of sources — primary (written at the time) and secondary sources (written
about a time period, after the fact). This practice can teach you how to decipher between
reliable and unreliable sources.

5. Quantitative Analysis

There are numbers and data to be learned from history. In terms of patterns: patterns in
population, desertions during times of war, and even in environmental factors. These patterns
that are found help clarify why things happened as they did.

6. Qualitative Analysis

It’s incredibly important to learn to question the quality of the information and “history” you
are learning. Keep these two questions in mind as you read through information: How do I
know what I’m reading are facts and accurate information? Could they be the writer’s
opinions?
 Activity:

Activity: UNDERSTANDING HISTORY: Meaning and Relevance of History

1. Give your definition of HISTORY. Compare your answer to the ideas of the experts who
defined history.

Ideas of the Experts in

My Definition: History:

For the Positivism, history is gathering empirical

and observable evidence because this is the best
way for you to claim a particular knowledge as a
History is a set of events where fact/truth. For Post Colonialism, history is where
you can show the changes in your past and how
different important matter they overcome the colonial discourse. They also
stated that history will help you to criticize the
happens. This is being passed methods, effects and idea of colonialism. For the
through generation by having Historian, they stated that to make a history you
must seek historical evidences and facts that will
evidences or any material that support your idea. After analyzing the information
you must organize them into a timeline. A person
will remind the past.
subjective must be inevitably influence the
process of his historical research because it is very
important that your collected facts are relevant
and the methodology were well-arranged.
 Assignment:

1. What are the sources of History?

Primary Sources

 Include documents or artifacts created by a witness to or participant in an event. They

can be firsthand testimony or evidence created during the time period that you are
studying.
 May include diaries, letters, interviews, oral histories, photographs, newspaper
articles, government documents, poems, novels, plays, and music. The collection and
analysis of primary sources is central to historical research.

Secondary Sources

 Analyze a scholarly question and often use primary sources as evidence.

 Include books and articles about a topic. They may include list of sources, example is
bibliographies, which may lead you to other primary or secondary sources.

2. How do they help in writing History?

Primary sources are the historical documents used by historians as evidence. In contrast, a
secondary source is the typical history book which may discuss a person, event or other
historical topic. A good secondary source uses primary source as evidence.

3. Give different kinds of primary and secondary sources.

Primary Sources Secondary Sources

 Archives and manuscript material  Journal articles that comment on or

 Photographs, audio recordings, video analyze research
recordings, and films  Textbooks
 Journals, letters, and diaries  Dictionaries and encyclopedias
 Speeches  Books that interpret, analyze
 Scrapbooks  Political commentary
 Published books, newspapers and  Biographies
magazine clippings publish at the  Dissertations
time  Newspaper editorial/opinion pieces
  Government publications  Criticism of literature, artworks or
 Oral histories music
 Records of organization
 Autobiographies and memoirs
 Printed ephemera
 Artifacts, example: clothing,
costumes and furniture
 Research data, example: public
opinion polls

Assessment:

Directions: Interview with an older person on what the Philippines was like during their time.
Ask them to share with you the significant activities that have taken place during that time.
Discuss this with a class.

I was able to have a conversation with my grandmother and I ask her regarding on the
changes during her time until now. She told me that there’s a lot of things that she didn’t
expect to happen like the increase on the market prices, the number of our medical team is
decreasing, our natural resources is getting smaller and most important is the poverty is
getting worse. She also told me that if the government will properly act for its country, it will
definitely go back to its old state which everyone can afford a lot of goods and provide
money to their families.

After hearing this, I learned that we should always work hard and look for the good
outcome of our actions to make sure that will not only become successful but also help other
people’s growth. It may takes a lot of time to resolve our country’s problem but I believe that
one day, we can create unity to make our world better.

Reflection:

1. How does history help in writing an individual’s life?

History will help an individual to learn what the important scenarios are in the past that
can help us to appreciate all their sacrifices, what are the important matter’s that they’ve done
and how their actions affect our current lives. We can definitely provide motivational and
knowledgeable information in our writing afterwards.
 2. Why do you study history?

I want to study the history to learn how to properly gather information and knowledge
from the past to make sure that I will be able pass it down to the new generation with
accurate details.

3. How does this subject help in your chosen career?

This subject will help me to learn how check the authentication of the primary source of
the information and appreciate the efforts of the people around me when I get my dream
career. I will definitely utilize this knowledge properly and make sure that I will become a
reliable workmate.