Year 8 HistoryMedieval Europe Term 3

Over 2 lessons we will learn: Background reading options Recognising and using primary and

secondary sources Using and writing focus questions Identifying keywords Choosing relevant sources Note-taking tips In-text referencing and bibliographies

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, articles

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

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

What are my two main general focus questions?

1. What do the primary and secondary sources reveal about change and continuity? 2. What elements changed over time?

Write some more focus questions to further explore this idea? For example:

1. What were communities like in the early middle ages?2. What development later occurred in towns and cities?

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

What do the primary and secondary sources reveal about change and continuity?

primary sources – check that source is first hand

secondary sources – check that source is an overview or interpretation

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

Ask: What are the keywords in specific focus questions below?

What were communities like in the early middle ages?

• Define communities – manor, landholding• Early Middle Ages – check time frame

What development later occurred in towns and cities?

• Define development – new ideas, new activities, new methods, new inventions, new designs, new behaviours, new values, new beliefs

• Later – check time period• Towns and cities

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 keywords as headings Use bullet points - key points in a nutshell or a

brief summary 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 specific focus 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 specific focus 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

For example:

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

Record the bibliographic details of your sources: Website requires:

Author Year published Title of web page URL

For example:Medieval Spell. (2012). Medieval Guild. Retrieved from http://www.medieval-spell.com/Medieval-Guilds.html.

Example paragraph: in-text referencing

Towns and cities changed extensively across the Middle Ages because of the decreasing influence of the feudal system and the increase in independent skilled workers. In the early Middle Ages, communities were organized according to feudal landholdings. Primary sources show evidence of Lords overseeing unskilled workers tending large parcels of agricultural land to provide food for the Lord (Saldais, 2012, p. 106). In the manorial system, peasants worked the Lord’s land, as well as pay rent to the Lord to grow their own food (Time-Life Books, 1997, p. 91). The change from the feudal system to the growth of village communities was slow but workers became more skilled, self-governing and independent (Time-Life Books, 1997). Towns grew as people left manors and became artisans, skilled workers or merchants. Guilds began to emerge which created “quality standards, conditions of work, fair pay and prices” and stronger commerce structures overall (Saldais, 2012, p. 144). Extensive changes occurred in towns and cities throughout the Middle Ages, mostly due to the increase of trade and commerce, particularly the growth of guilds and merchants from the lower classes.