Historical Thinking Role Play

Shelley Rose

Cleveland & the World: Relatable World History

Historical Thinking Role Play

Context

In Historical Thinking and Other Unnatural Acts, Sam Wineburg discusses the process of reading historical texts. In chapter 3, “On the Reading of Historical Texts” Wineburg discusses his research around the reading of texts and the ways in which in historians and students of history engage with text and subtext. Wineburg’s research shows how reading the text aloud is “complicated by the fact that historians are rarely the intended audience.”¹

Indeed, Wineburg’s research reveals that readers become writers as well and as “eavesdroppers” on the conversation happening in the text they must analyze

the authors intentions
the audience (and perhaps their reactions
their own reactions²

Activity

The research described above led Sam Wineburg to develop conclusions about how historians “think.” He coins this term “historical thinking.” For this activity, you will practice the dialogue of historical thinking as historian, teacher, or student. Choose one of the primary sources below and do one of the following:

Create a video or audio recording of your reading of the primary source as you read it.
Annotate the primary source with your running commentary (like the example in Wineburg’s table 3.1) There will be word documents of the primary sources provided for annotation in the course team.
Post your reading aloud or annotation to the course discussion channel. Be sure that you tell us what your role is as you read. This can be the role you feel is appropriate for your experiences or a role-play of putting yourself in the place of the historian, teacher, or student.