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History Stories
Driving Question: How does changing perspectives change our understanding of history?
Where does history begin? Every time we build a narrative about the past, we start at a different point, a point that makes sense to that particular narrative. In this course, we are going to start at the individual scale, with you. We’ll ask you, the student and historian-in-training, to look at different narratives, at different scales, from that of the individual to that of the Universe. While it might seem easier to stick to one single, simple story for everything, the materials in these lessons challenge you to embrace multiple narratives. You will see how, even with a single historical event, there are as many stories as there are perspectives.
- Understand how historians create narratives to tell the story of the Universe, Earth, and humanity.
- Evaluate how history stories are complicated and enriched by multiple perspectives.
- Practice your informal writing skills by evaluating Unit Problem statements.
What Makes History Usable
Key Ideas
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Guiding Questions
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Before you watch
Before you watch the video, it’s a good idea to open and skim the video transcript. And always read the questions below so you know what to look and listen for as you watch!
While you watch
- Bob Bain describes a long debate that politicians and educators have “waged war” over, about what should be taught in the history classroom. What are the two sides and what do they argue?
- What was the big driving question Bain’s students in Detroit studied?
- What did students do over the course of the school year, after they shared the stories they collected?
- What did looking at multiple narratives help students do?
- According to Bob Bain, what makes history usable?
After you watch
- How might looking at stories of the history of your city help you understand the present better?
- How might looking at stories of the history of your city help you understand the future better?
The Danger of a Single Story
What’s so “dangerous” about story telling? Author Chimamanda Adichie explores how the way we tell and hear stories shapes our understanding of the world around us.
Key Ideas
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Guiding Questions
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Before you watch
Before you watch the video, it’s a good idea to open and skim the video transcript. And always read the questions below so you know what to look and listen for as you watch!
While you watch
- What kinds of characters did Adichie write about as a young girl, and what did these characters do? Why is it significant that Adichie chose to write about those characters and their lives?
- Why did it matter that Fide’s brother made a beautiful, patterned basket? How did that affect Adichie’s understanding of the story of Fide’s family?
- What expectations did Adichie’s roommate have about Nigeria and Africa more broadly? According to Adichie, what gave her roommate these expectations? How does it relate to Adichie’s previous point about the story of Fide’s family?
- Why did Adichie’s professor think her novel lacked authenticity?
- What did Adichie witness during her trip to Guadalajara that surprised her? Why was it surprising to her? What did this make her realize?
- Why would starting a story with “secondly” affect different communities? What are examples that Adichie gives?
- Why did Adichie tell the student that it was a shame that young Americans were serial murderers? What was different about Adichie’s understanding of America versus the student’s understanding of Nigeria?
- Adichie describes negative experiences she and her family and friends have experienced in Nigeria, including poor health care and education, limited water, repressive governments, and poverty. She also mentions war crimes and unemployment. How, according to Adichie, do these stories fit into the stereotype of Africa as a “continent full of catastrophes.” What, according to Adichie, is the problem with stereotypes?
- What are some examples Adichie gives of stories that challenge stereotypes?
After you watch
- Adichie claims that power affects which stories are told, how they are told, and which stories become “definitive” accepted stories that people believe. Using evidence from the video and anything else you have learned in this unit, give an example of a story which has been accepted because a powerful group has told it in a certain way.
- Adichie argues that beginning a story with “secondly” can completely change the story. How do order and context affect stories? Using an example from your life or what you have learned in past history classes, give an example of a story which can become a completely different story if you change the context or order.
