Overview
Each historical event was experienced, perceived, and remembered differently depending on the person, which means there are many competing narratives of a single event. In this activity, you will compare the narratives represented in each of your sources.
Prompt
Use the provided Module Four Activity Template: Historical Narratives Word Document to complete this activity. First, you will locate an additional secondary source related to your historical event. You will then compare the narratives about your historical event in each of your sources (two primary and two secondary). Finally, you will choose a narrative you believe has been the most influential in terms of what is known about your historical event.
Specifically, you must address the following rubric criteria:
Compare the narratives presented in your primary and secondary sources relevant to your historical event.
Apply the source analysis skills from the previous activity to help you compare the narratives about your historical event. Describe the stories told in each source about your historical event. Provide evidence from your sources to support your descriptions of the narratives. Consider the following questions:
How are the narratives in each source similar and/or different?
From which perspectives are the narratives told?
What was occurring in society at the time of the event, such as politics, the economy, and entertainment?
Select one narrative from the four you analyzed. Choose the narrative that you think has been the most influential in terms of what is known and unknown about your historical event. Explain why you chose this narrative and how it has impacted our current understanding of the event.
HIS 100 Module Four Activity Template: Historical Narratives
Locate an additional secondary source relevant to your historical event. Use all four of your
sources (two primary and two secondary) to answer the questions below. Replace the
bracketed text with your responses.
Identify the topic you chose to explore:
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[Insert text.]
Attempt to write the APA style citations for your four sources. Include links to each source. You will not
be penalized for incorrect citation format.
• [Insert citation.]
• [Insert citation.]
• [Insert citation.]
• [Insert citation.]
Compare the narratives presented in your primary and secondary sources relevant to your
historical event.
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[Insert text.]
Describe one narrative that has significantly influenced the contemporary understanding of
your historical event.
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[Insert text.]
Explain how the chosen narrative helps you better understand your historical research
question. Please provide your revised research question and then explain how the chosen
narrative helps you better event.
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[Insert text.]
Please include your research question here (you will not be graded on this).
HIS 100 Module Three Activity Template: Revising Questions
Identify the topic you chose to explore:
The topic I chose is a creation of the United Nations.
Identify a historical perspective that could be applied to your historical event.
The United Nations was created after World War II as an international organization to
maintain world peace and security. It was formed as a result of the need for an international
response to the atrocities that took place during World War II, particularly in light of the
Holocaust and other mass killings. At the end of World War II, it was clear that there could no
longer be any tolerance for such crimes against humanity. The historical perspective is that it was
created after World War II and the Cold War.
The historical event that I am writing about is when the United States and its allies
defeated Germany, Italy and Japan in World War II. The allies had many differences between
them but they joined forces to defeat Hitler, Mussolini and Hirohito who were aligned with one
another. The reason why I chose this historical event is because it is important for me to
understand how different countries work together when there are conflicts between them. It’s also
important for me to learn about how different cultures interact with each other because I want to
be able to travel around the world someday soon and know what to expect from certain
countries.
Revise your research question based on evidence from your primary and secondary
sources.
I have decided to revise my research question to “How did the creation of the United
Nations affect international relations?”
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The research I have done has helped me understand that the formation of the United
Nations was a very important event in history. It affected relations between countries and
promoted peace and security around the world.
The United Nations was created on October 24th, 1945 after World War II ended. The
purpose of this organization is to prevent another major world war from occurring again. The UN
has 193 member states, with one country as its head. Its headquarters are located in New York
City, USA.
The UN serves as an international forum for discussing international issues; promoting
friendly relations among nations; helping nations cooperate economically; working for
international peace and security; encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental
freedoms; protecting individuals in times of need; providing humanitarian aid during natural
disasters and armed conflicts; assisting underdeveloped countries with economic development
programs; and helping countries improve living conditions by meeting basic needs such as food
and shelter (United Nations).
Explain how historical perspective and evidence from sources influenced your finalized
research question.
My research question was influenced by the historical perspective and evidence from
sources. In the past century, there have been many events that have changed our world. One of
them was the creation of the United Nations. The UN was created in 1945 after World War II
ended. It was created to prevent any more wars like World War II from happening again. The
UN consists of 193 member states and it is an intergovernmental organization that promotes
international cooperation and has some limited powers to enforce its decisions. Since its creation,
it has helped many countries around the world solve their problems peacefully instead of going
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to war with each other (Robinson, 2016). The UN has also helped millions of refugees all over
the world by providing them food, water, shelter and medical care until they can go back home
safely or find another place where they can live peacefully (UNHCR).
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References
Ivanov, A. (2018). THE INTERNATIONALIZATION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AND CREATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT
PROGRAM1. Horizons Series A, 22, 7-20.
Roberts, G. (2019). A League of Their Own: The Soviet Origins of the United Nations. Journal
of Contemporary History, 54(2), 303-327.
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