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Lesson 1.2 Vocab

authority
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Definition

a respectable or credible source

Use In A Sentence

A historian is a person who is an authority on history and who studies it and writes about it.

claim tester
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Definition

the four ways (intuition, authority, logic, evidence) by which we evaluate historical claims

Use In A Sentence

Evidence is one of the claim testers we can use to evaluate the truthfulness behind the Big Bang Theory.

evidence
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Definition

a basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief

Use In A Sentence

Archaeologists have learned much about early people by studying evidence.

frame
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Definition

a particular lens or perspective that information is perceived through

Use In A Sentence

In order to find patterns, Diego had to read the articles in a particular frame of mind.

logic
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Definition

reasoning, the process of sound reasoning, or the study of reasoning

Use In A Sentence

It is a principle of logic that if two things are both equal to another thing, they are equal to each other.

scale switching
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Definition

moving between events, people, details, questions, and narratives from different perspectives of time and space to develop useful pictures of our global past

Use In A Sentence

By scale-switching, the teacher was able to explain both the specifics of the American Revolution as well as its place in world history.

What Is World History?

Teacher Resources

Course Guide icon

Lesson Guide

This guide is your first stop for timing, sample answers, and everything else you need to teach this lesson.

Driving Question: Why is learning history important?

History comes alive when we view events from multiple perspectives and time periods. To uncover an event’s true significance, historians rely on powerful tools like claim testing and scale switching—methods that help unravel the complexities of the past and bring it into sharp focus.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Learn how scale switching helps historians better understand the past.
  2. Learn how to use claim testers to evaluate arguments.
  3. Identify the three frames of this course and explain their characteristics.

Vocab Terms:

STEP 1

Opener: What Is World History?

Ever heard the phrase “look at the big picture”? Now, imagine what happens when you're only looking at one small piece of it. The full story can be completely different.

Opener

Zooming Out External link

How does your understanding of an image change as you zoom out?
STEP 2

History of Many Shapes and Sizes

Teaching Tools

Each unit of the course begins with an overview video like this one. These videos introduce students to the main narratives and themes of each unit. Each one digs into a historical example and examines historical data that will help students understand larger historical trends.

Overview videos break down the big themes, spotlight key data, and zoom in or out to give you fresh angles on history.

Origins of History: Unit 1 Overview External link

This first overview video introduces you to the origins of history, including how you fit into this history and the role you’ll play in shaping it.
STEP 3

Claim Testing

Teaching Tools

This is the first claim-testing activity in the course. If you need to brush up on your understanding of this historical thinking skill, check out OER Project supports like our claim-testing posters and Feedback Forms. You can find them—and some quick tips and tricks for teaching this skill—in a quick one-pager External link .

Historians love to make claims about the past. Claim testing is the best tool for evaluating those arguments and separating fact from fiction.

Activity

Claim Testing: Introduction External link

Learn how to use the four claim testers— intuition, logic, authority, and evidence—to evaluate statements and arguments made by other people.
STEP 4

Reading History

Teaching Tools

Every reading in this course is accompanied by guiding questions in a routine called Three-Step Reading. Students first 1) skim for orientation; 2) they then read for understanding; and 3) finally, they connect the text to what they’re learning.

You’ll find sample answers in every Lesson Guide Locked . For more information on Three-Step Reading, you can check out pages 2–3 of the Reading Guide External link .

Interpreting history means diving deep into the details. Try the Three-Step Reading strategy to dig into the first article in this course.

Activity

Introduction to Three-Step Reading External link

Three-Step Reading is a strategy that helps you critically analyze what you read, and yes, it has three steps. And this strategy isn’t just for this course—you can use it with anything you read!

Article

Unit 1 Introduction: History of Many Shapes and Sizes External link

History might seem simple—it’s just a list of names, dates, and events, right? Historians would beg to differ. Learn why in this article.
STEP 5

Closer: What Is World History?

What happens when we start with the big picture? How does zooming in on the smaller details change our understanding? It’s all about shifting perspectives to uncover new insights.

Closer

Zooming In External link

When we look at things at a large scale, we see the big picture. But when we’re zoomed out too far, we often miss smaller details about the lives of the individuals who make history happen.