READINGS IN THE PHILIPPINE HISTORY

(OUTCOME-BASED MODULE)

MODULE 1
INTRODUCTION, MEANING AND RELEVANCE OF HISTORY

GENERAL OBJECTIVE:

This module emphasizes the relevance of studying Philippine History in the 21 st. Century. It
focuses on analyzing Philippine history from multiple perspectives based on selected primary sources
from various disciplines and genres.

SECTION 3: DISTINCTION AND EVALUATION OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SOURCES

OBJECTIVE:

This chapter explains how to evaluate primary and secondary source materials. This also
elaborates on the primacy of primary sources over secondary sources. In addition, this presents the
different points of consideration in analyzing both types of sources.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

At the end of this module, the students are expected to:

1. Differentiate primary and secondary sources of historical records

2. Identify possible repositories and evaluate the provenance of primary sources
3. Identify the criteria in evaluating primary and secondary source materials
4. Examine and assess critically the value of historical evidences and sources

TOPICS:

1. Historical Method
2. Historical Sources and Historical Criticism

HOME ACTIVITIES:

Set A:

A. True or False. Write true if the statement is true. Otherwise, write false in the space provided.

FALSE 1. Historical sources that were written should not be used in writing history.
FALSE 2. Only primary sources may be used in writing history.
TRUE 3. There are three types of sources: primary, secondary, and tertiary sources.
TRUE 4. External criticism is done by examining the physical characteristics of a source.
FALSE 5. Internal Criticism is done by looking at source’s quality of paper and type of ink,
among others.

B. Instructions: Write PS if the item is a primary source, SS if it is a secondary source, and N if it

is neither of the two sources.

PS 1. Memoirs
PS 2. Annual reports of the governor-general
SS 3. Philippine History textbooks
PS 4. Newspapers clippings
SS 5. Online journal article about the role of the collaborators in WW II
 PS 6. Artifacts and relics
SS 7. Documentary reports
PS 8. Photo exhibit
N 9. Editorial cartoons
PS 10. Paintings

Set B:

A. Questions to Answer.

1. Compare and contrast the characteristics of primary and secondary source materials. Give
an explanation for the overlapping characteristics concepts.

Primary Sources include documents or artifacts created by a witness to or participant in an

event.  They can be firsthand testimony or evidence created during the time period that you
are studying while Secondary Sources analyze a scholarly question and often use primary
sources as evidence. Additionally, primary sources can be described as those sources that
are closest to the origin of the information while secondary sources often use
generalizations, analysis, interpretation, and synthesis of primary sources.
Secondary sources are closely related to primary sources and often interpret them.
These sources are documents that relate to information that originated
elsewhere. Secondary sources often use generalizations, analysis, interpretation, and
synthesis of primary sources.

2. List down eight (8) examples of primary sources.

a. Diaries
b. Memoirs
c. Interviews
d. Oral Histories
e. Photographs
f. Newspaper Articles
g. Government Documents
h. Poems, Novels, Plays and Music

3. List down eight (8) examples of secondary sources.

a. Textbooks
b. Articles
c. Reference books
d. Painting Exhibits
e. Biography of a Historical Figure
f. Newspaper Article about a New Policy
g. Literature Review that Cites the Study
h. Blog Post Interpreting the Results of an Opinion Poll

4. List down five (5) examples of sources which can either be primary or secondary depending
on the context and use.
a. Documentaries
b. Reviews and Essays
c. Newspaper Articles
d. Essays
e. Movies

B. Classification of Sources: Primary or Secondary

Instructions: Using any social media site, ask your friends to share their opinions on whether
President Rodrigo Duterte is an elite president or a populist president. Afterwards, screenshot,
print, cut, and stick five responses that can either be a primary or secondary source on the
spaces provided. Indicate whether the response is a primary or secondary source of information.
Justify why each response is a primary or secondary source.

Response 1
 Response 2

Response 3

Response 4

Response 5

Set C:
 A. Evaluating Primary and Secondary Sources

Instructions: Choose among the following historical events:

a. Marcos’ Declaration of Martial Law
b. EDSA People Power I
c. President Joseph Estrada’s Impeachment

Using library and online resources, search for primary and secondary sources that show
or explain the significance of your chosen historical event. Write down the selected sources and
identify the possible biases that they might contain.

Historical Event:

1. Primary Sources:
a. ________________________________________
b. ________________________________________
c. ________________________________________
d. ________________________________________
e. ________________________________________

2. Secondary Sources:
a. ___________________________________________
b. ___________________________________________
c. ___________________________________________
d. ___________________________________________
e. ___________________________________________

3. Enumerate five (5) sources that you do not have access to but could been helpful in
understanding your chosen historical event. Explain.
a. _________________________________________________________________
b. _________________________________________________________________
c. _________________________________________________________________
d. _________________________________________________________________
e. _________________________________________________________________

B. Doing Field Work

Instruction: List down (10) specific sources. Take a photograph of each historical
source and classify whether it is a primary or secondary source. Attach the
photos to this activity sheet.

Historical Source Classification

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Set D:
 C. Tracing the Roots

Instructions: Using the reference below, analyze the origin and the development of “Fake
News” in the Maragtas Story and the Code of Kalantiaw. How did the researchers discover that
they are hoaxes? Considering the primary and secondary sources below, write a 800 to 1000-
word analysis on a separate sheet of paper.

Readings and Video Clip:

 Halili, C.N. (2004). Philippine History (pp. 8-12). Quezon City, Philippines: REX Book Store
Inc.
 Torrecampo, R. (2015). Maragtas Story, Code of Kalantiaw et al. – “History” that never
was. Retieved from http://www.lifesomundane.net/2015/01/maragtas.html
 GMA7. (2015, November 8). Code of Kalatiaw: Isang historical hoax [video file].
Retrieved from http://www.toutube.com/watch?c=RKqgfCtDx0M

Set E:

D. Metacognitive Reading Report

Instructions: Read the referenced readings and accomplish the reading report.

Readings:
 Gottschalk, L. (1969). Understanding History: A Primer of Historical Method (pp. 41-61,
117-170). New York, NY: A.A. Knopf
 Howell, M. & Prevenier, W. (2001). From Reliable Sources: An Introduction to Historical
Methods (pp. 17-68). Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.

1. The three (3) things that I significantly learned from the readings are…
a. __________________________________________________________________
b. __________________________________________________________________
c. __________________________________________________________________

2. The three (3) things that are still unclear to me are…

a. __________________________________________________________________
b. __________________________________________________________________
c. __________________________________________________________________

3. I used to think that…

_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

4. The three (3) questions that I want to ask about the readings are…
a. _________________________________________________________________
b. _________________________________________________________________
c. _________________________________________________________________

REFERENCES:
 Anonymous, (n.d.). Historical Method. Retrieved from
http://edwardseducationblog.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/historical-method.pdf
 Farell, K. (2014). Primary and Secondary Sources in the Study of History. Encased in Steel.
Retrieved from
www.encaseinsteel.co.uk/2014/09/19/primary-and-secondary-sources-in-the-study-of-history
 Redmon, R. (2013, December 2). Primary vs. Secondary Sources [video file]. Retrieved from
http://youtu.be/cqXHO7bTPnw
 Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. (2013). Primary vs. Secondary Sources. Retrieved from
http:www2.smumn.edu/deptpages/tclibrary/tutorials/finding/primary.pdf
 Smith, B. (n.d.). Historical Method: The How of Historical Inquiry. Retrieved from
http://www.textexcavation.com/historicalmethod.html