Question

Which of the following best describes the sources a historian uses to support an argument?

Answer 1

Historical evidence is what historians use to support arguments, involving the collection and analysis of primary and secondary sources to develop understanding and make interpretations about the past.

Step-by-step explanation:

The sources a historian uses to support an argument can best be described as Historical evidence. This involves the process of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting information from primary and secondary sources. After historians gather this information, they engage in corroborating the evidence, comparing different sources for agreements or significant differences, which aids in developing a compelling argument or narrative about historical events. The development of historical claims and their support with relevant historical evidence is an integral part of historical thinking and inquiry, leading to a deeper understanding of the past. Moreover, historical thinking extends beyond just learning facts, as it incorporates critical analysis and creativity.

The task of historical inquiry begins by formulating guiding questions that are relevant to the research. Historians then analyze historical documents and objects (primary sources) as well as accounts or interpretations created by others (secondary sources), summarizing key facts, ideas, dates, and perspectives. This analysis leads to the development of historical evidence, subsequently resulting in historical interpretations that aim to answer the original guiding questions.

Answer 2

Historians often rely on both primary and secondary sources when supporting an argument, since it's important to use secondary sources to put the argument in context, and primary sources in order to make an original point.