RPH-LESSON 1
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course analyzes Philippine history from multiple perspectives through the lens of selected primary
sources coming from various disciplines and different genres. Students are given opportunities to
analyze the author’s background and main arguments, compare different points of view, identify biases,
and examine the evidence presented in the document. The discussion will tackle traditional topics in
history and other interdisciplinary themes that will deepen and broaden their understanding of
Philippine political, economic, cultural, social, scientific, and religious history. Priority is given to primary
materials that could help students develop their analytical and communication skills. The end goal is to
develop the historical and critical consciousness of the students so that they will become versatile,
articulate, broadminded, morally upright, and responsible citizens.
Course Learning Outcome
At the end of the course, the students would be able to:
1. Evaluate primary sources for credibility, authenticity, and provenance;
2. Analyze the context, content, and perspective of different kinds of primary sources;
3. Determine the contribution of different kinds of primary sources in understanding Philippine history;
4. Develop critical and analytical skills with exposure to primary sources;
5. Demonstrate the ability to use primary sources to argue in favor or against a particular issue.
6. Propose recommendations/solutions to present-day problems based on their understanding of root
causes and their anticipation of future scenarios.
7. Develop interest in local history and ethno history to promote and preserve our country’s national
patrimony and cultural heritage.
Intended Learning Outcome
1. Identify credible and authentic primary sources and know how to evaluate their provenance;
2. Analyze the context, content, and perspective of different kinds of primary sources and determine
how they affected the history of the Filipino people;
3. Develop critical and analytical skills as they are exposed to primary sources.
What is history? How did the word “history” come about?
Derived from the Greek noun istoia, meaning learning.
Aristotle said history meant a systematic account of a set of natural phenomena, whether or not
chronological factoring was the factor of the account
Teodoro Agoncillo (November 9, 1912 – January 14, 1985) was a prominent 20th-century Filipino
historian. “History deals with the past, not with the future. We use history to avoid the mistakes of the
past, not to recreate the very same events.
WHY STUDY HISTORY?
1. An examination of the past, can tell us a great deal about how we came to be who we are.
2. Looking at the past teaches us to see the world through different eyes-appreciating the diversity of
human perceptions, beliefs, and cultures.
Why is history significant?
> Ten reasons why history is crucial to our education.
History helps us understand other cultures. ...
History helps us understand our own society. ...
History helps us understand our own identities. ...
History builds citizenship. ...
History gives us insight into present-day problems. ...
History builds reading and writing skills…
History builds interpretation and analysis skills…
History helps us understand change…
History allows us to learn from the past…
History is the greatest of stories…
Other Concepts and Approaches of History
1. Arnold Toynbee “Challenge and Response Theory” is based on the idea that man responds to the
situation placed before him. His actions is based on his thoughts.
2. Alvin Scaff's” Exchange Theory” refers to the systematic statement of principles that govern the
exchange of goods (tangible or intangible) between individuals, between groups, between
organizations, and even between nations.
3. Georg Wilhelm Hegel’s Moving Force of History refers to the role of historical man to follow a
principle to do the tasks or events that may happen, which is called Weltgiest or world spirit, which
embodies ideals like patriotism, heroism, and unity. That developed into a particular ideal called
Geisteswissenchaften or the world of Spirit of thought. This area of thought is the thesis, while
Naturwissenchaften is the antithesis. By the combination of thesis and antithesis, man achieves the
synthesis, which is the HISTORICAL REALITY.
4. Fernand Braudel’s Method of Historiography “The Father of Historical Structuralism” teaches that
human actions are not only based on human decisions but also on ‘structures’ that may be natural or
man-made. In order to achieve ‘total history’ is to integrate all aspects of man’s past.
2 TYPES OF HISTORY SOURCE
1. Primary Source
> Provide raw information and first-hand evidence. Examples include interview transcripts,
statistical data, and works of art. A primary source gives you direct access to the subject of your
research.
Anything you directly analyze or use as first-hand evidence can be a primary source,
including qualitative or quantitative data that you collected yourself.
Types of primary source
Some examples of primary source formats include:
> archives and manuscript material.
> photographs, audio recordings, video recordings, films.
> journals, metadata, letters, and diaries.
> speeches/interviews
> scrapbooks.
> published books, newspapers, and magazine clippings published at the time.
> Government publications or documents
> oral histories
> maps
2. Secondary Source
Provide second-hand information and commentary from other researchers. Examples include
journal articles, reviews, and academic books. A secondary source describes, interprets, or synthesizes
primary sources.
How to evaluate their provenance?
(identifying credible and authentic of both)
To determine if a source is primary or secondary, ask yourself:
> Was the source created by someone directly involved in the events you're studying (primary), or by
another researcher (secondary)?
> Does the source provide original information (primary), or does it summarize information from other
sources (secondary)?
> Are you directly analyzing the source itself (primary), or only using it for background information
(secondary)?
> Some types of source are nearly always primary: works of art and literature, raw statistical data,
official documents and records, and personal communications (e.g. letters, interviews). If you use one of
these in your research, it is probably a primary source.
> Always make sure to properly cite your sources to avoid plagiarism.
Content vs. Context Analysis
Analyze the context, content, and perspective of different kinds of primary sources and
determine how they affected the history of the Filipino people;
Content
Content is the material/matter/medium contained within the work that’s available for the audience.
Content can come in several forms: audio, video, written, and visual (photo).
Context
Context is the positioning of the content, storyline, or purpose that provides value to the
audience.
Context analysis is a method to analyze the environment in which a business operates. ...
But context analysis considers the entire environment of a business, its internal and external
environment. This is an important aspect of business planning.
