Readings in Philippine History

Module No.:4

Chapter 2- The Identification of the Historical Importance of the Text.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon completion of the lessons, the student will be able to:

1. Discuss the historical importance of the text.

LEARNING CONTENT

Historical Text

• Historical text informs the reader about key events and important people from the past
• Historical text gives the reader an understanding of what led up to the important events in history

Examples of historical text are: nonfiction history books, autobiographies, biographies,

historical research websites, diaries, social studies/history textbooks, past newspapers,
encyclopedias

Scientific Text

• Scientific text informs the reader about concepts in science.

• Scientific text gives the reader a greater understanding of the world around them. Topics may
include nature, animals, plants, the scientific method, space, chemistry, geology, the human body,
and weather.

Examples of scientific text: nonfiction science books, science magazines, science

textbooks, science blogs, science research websites, scientific journals

Technical Text

• Technical text provides the reader information about a specific topic.

• Technical text teachers the reader how to do something Technical text has vocabulary words that
are specific to its area of focus.
 Examples of technical text: directions, instructions, websites, cookbooks, trade books,
game rules, how-to books, atlas, scripts, manuals, recipes **Students will also need to read a text
and determine if it is historical, scientific, or technical.

Context

In the very simplest terms, a “primary source” is described as any record that was created at the
time of an event by someone who was there. In short, an eyewitness account of some kind. Perhaps it is a
photo, map, letter, or other document such as a census record.

Characteristics of Primary Sources

• Primary sources can either be first-hand observation/analysis, or accounts contemporary with the
events described.
• Primary sources document events, people, and viewpoints of the time.
• When research is more era, rather than event driven, scope of possible primary sources broadens
considerably.
• Primary sources represent one person's perspective; frequently will be used
with secondary/tertiary sources to broaden the lens through which a researcher is looking at an
event, era, or phenomenon.
• It is important when using anything as a primary source that the researcher be cognizant of and
sensitive to the bias of the observer/analyzer that created the primary source, and also to the
broader cultural biases of the era in which the primary source was created.
• The researcher's perspective, or the arguments or points for which a researcher plans to use a
primary source as evidence, is significant in determining what sources will be primary.
• Reproductions of primary sources remain primary for many research purposes.
• Some attributes are based more on the perspective represented in the source and context in which
the source is being used by researcher.

Important Sources of History (Primary and Secondary Sources)

Some of the important sources of history are as follows:

➢ All the material which has a direct bearing or can be any assistance in constructing the history of
a particular period is called as historical facts or sources.

➢ The historical sources can be of two types, i.e. Primary and Secondary Sources. A primary source
is the evidence of an eyewitness or mechanical device which was present at the time of the
occurrence of an event.

➢ It is the work of the historian to convert the scattered difficult primary evidence into coherent,
intelligible secondary sources.
 ➢ The secondary source is the evidence of someone who was not present at the time of occurrence
of the event e.g., books written by historians.

➢ The secondary source is also of great historical importance to the historians. Although secondary
source is itself dependent on primary sources.

➢ A primary source may contain secondary information e.g., news papers are usually considered
primary sources, but the information provided by news paper is not all based on primary sources.
Such as certain incidents reported by the paper may be such which the correspondent saw or in,
he actually took part while certain offer information may be based on official information or
sources considered reliable.

Primary Sources:

The primary sources can be classified into the following categories:

1) Contemporary Records

These types of primary sources are in the form of the instruction documents, stenographic
and phonographic records. The business and legal paper and autobiographies, etc... The
instruction documents may be in the form of an appointment notification, and direction from
foreign office to the ambassador etc. Generally, such documents have very little chance of error,
but it is essential to ascertain their authenticity.

The Business and legal letters consist of the bills, journals, leases, wills, tax records
which gives an insight into the working of the firms as well as the persons. The autobiographies
are a credible source of history because they are very close to the events with which they deal and
written by a person himself. These are non-prejudicial.

2) Confidential Reports

The confidential reports are not intended for general audience and are less reliable than
the contemporary sources. These types of reports are generally in the forms of military and
diplomatic dispatches, Journals, diaries or memoirs and personal letters.

3) Public Reports

The public reports are meant for public and less reliable. There are three types of public
reports and each possesses a different degree of reliability, such as— Newspaper reports and
dispatches are more reliable which depends upon the agency from which it originated and the
news paper in which it is published; Memoirs and autobiographies are another public reports
which are written for the public at the close of the life when the memoirs of author is fading and
are therefore, not very reliable and the official histories of the activities of government or
 business house are also an important kind of public reports. They possess incriminating material
and less reliable.

4) Government Documents

Numerous government documents are compiled which are also a source of vital
importance to the historians such as statistics about fiscal, census and vital matters which can be
made use of by the historians. All these reports have firsthand importance but require proper
evaluation before the use.

5) Public Opinion

The public opinion as expressed in editorials, speeches, pamphlets, letter to editor are
another important source available to the historian, but authenticity of this must be corroborated
by other evidence because public opinion may not be always reliable.

6) Folklores and Proverbs

The folklores which reveal the stories of legendary heroes are also an important source of
history. They tell us about the aspirations, superstitions, and customs of the people among whom-
the stories developed, e.g. “Alla-Uddal” the hero Rajputana.

To make the use of these folklores the historian should not only possess a thorough
knowledge of the history of the period but also able to distinguish between the legendary and
authentic elements. Similarly, proverbs can give us an idea, but scholar must have the thorough
knowledge of the customs and traditions.

Secondary Sources:

The primary sources can be of great help to the historian if he has acquire thorough knowledge of
the background through the study of secondary sources, i.e. the works of the great and important
historians of the proposed area and period of research. Based on this knowledge, he can utilize the
contemporary document at relevant place and can correct the secondary sources.

Different kinds of Secondary Sources

• Bibliographies
• Biographical works
• Reference books, including dictionaries, encyclopedias, and atlases
• Articles from magazines, journals, and newspapers after the event
• Literature reviews and review articles (e.g., movie reviews, book reviews)
• History books and other popular or scholarly books
• Works of criticism and interpretation
• Commentaries and treatises
 • Textbooks
• Indexes and abstracts

Different Kinds of Primary Sources

• Autobiographies and memoirs

• Diaries, personal letters, and correspondence
• Interviews, surveys, and fieldwork
• Internet communications on email, blogs, listservs, and newsgroups
• Photographs, drawings, and posters
• Works of art and literature
• Books, magazine and newspaper articles and ads published at the time
• Public opinion polls
• Speeches and oral histories
• Original documents (birth certificates, property deeds, trial transcripts)
• Research data, such as census statistics
• Official and unofficial records of organizations and government agencies
• Artifacts of all kinds, such as tools, coins, clothing, furniture, etc.
• Audio recordings, DVDs, and video recordings
• Government documents (reports, bills, proclamations, hearings, etc.)
• Patents
• Technical reports
• Scientific journal articles reporting experimental research results

READINGS

Ariola, M. (2018). The life and works of Rizal. Manila: Unlimited Books Library Services & Publishing,
Inc.
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/322613.
El Filibusterismo, the film
 ACTIVITY/IES

Activity Mechanics:

1. Choose one person from your classmates to work with you.

2. Select a topic in any of the topics below:

a. Confidential Reports
b. Public Reports
c. Government Documents
d. Public Opinion
e. Folklores and Proverbs
f. Contemporary Records

3. After you have selected a topic, think of any means on how you can integrate the current issues,
and
4. Share them with the rest of your classmates and with your teacher.

ASSIGNMENT

Assignment:

1. Critical essay about a particular primary source, students are to discuss the importance of the text,
the author’s background, the context of the document, and its contribution to understanding
Philippine History
2. Visit a well-known place near your town and create a five-seven-minute travel video.
3. Explain the video the relevance of the place.
4. Describe what you see, hear, smell and touch. Try to taste famous food and delicacies in the area.
Be ready to present the video in class.
 A ASSESSMENT

I. True or False:

Directions: Write True if the statement is true. If the statement is False, underline the word that makes it
false.

1. These types of primary sources are in the form of the instruction documents, stenographic and
phonographic records.
2. Primary sources document events, people, and viewpoints of the time.
3. Historical text informs the listener about key events and important people from the past
4. The confidential reports are not intended for specific audience and are less reliable than the
contemporary sources.
5. The folklores which reveal the stories of legendary heroes are also an important source of history.
6. The private reports are meant for public and less reliable.
7. The primary source is the evidence of someone who was not present at the time of occurrence of the
event.
8. The instruction documents may be in the form of an appointment notification, and direction from
foreign office to the ambassador etc.
9. The secondary source is also of great historical importance to the historians.
10. The reproductions of secondary sources remain primary for many research purposes.

II. Reflection Essay

Directions: Write a reflection essay in any one of the following topics:

A. Confidential Reports
B. Public Reports
C. Government Documents
D. Public Opinion
E. Folklores and Proverbs
F. Contemporary Records

Nota Bene:

Examine the class rubric on the reflective essay before you write your essay.

REFERENCES

Torres, Jose Victor. BATIS Sources in the Philippine History. C & E Publishing, Inc.
Philippine History http://www.philippine-history.org/ Accessed March 8, 2018