WRITING ABOUT HISTORY USING MOVING IMAGES
This lesson introduces students to archival collections of documentary films from the early 1900s throughout the 20th century. Students first select a film for study. They analyze the historical value of the film using document-based questions (DBQs), then write a short paper on their interpretations.
The goal of this lesson is twofold: (1) to introduce students to the concept that history is argument, or interpretation, based on evidence; and (2) to show that moving images can be an effective tool for presenting evidence.
