Using Evidence, Sources and Reasoning in History and Politics Theme: Russian Revolution
Monica Fernandes Academic Skills Advisor
Why is evidence important? • An academic argument is an informed and authoritative opinion backed by evidence and reasoning • Remember to be critical in your thinking
#1 Understand the structure and context of your materials • Who are the authors? • What is the context for the work? • What is the research trying to do? • What elements are you interested in? • Where in the research can you find this information?
# 2 Evaluate your evidence The STAR criteria Sufficiency Is there enough evidence? Typicality Is the information representative and typical? Accuracy Is the information accurate and up-to-date? Relevance Is the information relevant to the claim?
Sufficiency • Do you have enough evidence? • If not, your argument could be dismissed as a generalisation. • For example, to argue that oral history in the Russian Revolution was strife, you will need significance evidence to back that point up
Typicality • If you choose extreme or rare cases as examples, rather than typical or representative ones, your reader might accuse you of cherrypicking your information.
• If you are writing an essay about the importance of peace negotiations and only refer to one rare case where a country hasn’t had a civil war, your reader could feel you’re too biased.
Accuracy • Providing recent, accurate information is essential for your own responsibility as a writer. • For example, saying Hitler was from Belgium and was involved in Anglo-Boer War from 1912-1915 is historically and politically incorrect
Relevance • If your evidence is not relevant to your topic, it will be ineffective. • For example, if you are writing about the politics of the Russian Revolution and refer to the dietary trends of the time, the latter information will most likely be irrelevant.
Primary sources vs. secondary sources • When is it best to use primary sources? • When is it best to use secondary sources? • What’s the difference?
Which is stronger evidence and why? • A website http://www.marxists.org/ • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/RussianRevolution.htm
• A video- http://www.history.com/topics/russianrevolution/videos#finding-the-romanovs
Which is stronger evidence and why? • You tube clip about a movie about the Russian Revolution http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMGrIwLj7gU • Speech by Trotskyhttp://www.openculture.com/2012/02/trotsky_russ ian_revolutionary_makes_debut_performance_befo re_microphone_1932_.html
Also look out for… – Flaws in logic and reasoning – Know where does your evidence come from – Critiquing evidence that is used as a sounding board for one’s personal beliefs
Remember to synthesise • We can combine the arguments. • Even if you haven’t found any flaws, linking the work you’ve read and presenting them both to the reader still shows critical awareness.
What is critical reasoning? 1. Critical reasoning refers to: – –
How well you understand what you are reading The constant questioning why something is important and creating a more accurate prediction
2. Good reasoning results from… – good evidence • Eg: What are the reasons for thinking arguments are valid?
– good explanations • Eg: What are there patterns or trends as to why something happens?
3. Push beyond the information given –
your conclusions will do this
Critical reasoning affects the following: 1. Persuasion – How strong is your argument?
2. Feedback – Which you would get from your assignments
3. Prediction – This is represented in your conclusion
Bad reasoning includes‌ 1. Irrelevant information 2. Illogical structure 3. Underestimating the context of your assignment 4. Biased work
Beware… • An argument can be consistent but incorrect: • Russia is best know for their Russian Revolution. Revolutions are a sign of political instability. Therefore Russia is politically unstable. • On what grounds would we debate this statement?
Recognising Assumptions • Assumptions are unstated reasons • When is a point argued, and when is it assumed?
• Assumptions provide an opportunity to critique an argument • Conversely, some assumptions are necessary • What are reasonable assumptions?
What are looked for in History assignments… • Historiography and the different perspectives – – – –
Traditionalist Revisionist Post-revisionist Nationalist
• Underlying themes in your work – – – – –
Gender Class Race Religion Conflict
Beyond academia • Reasoning and analysis skills are highly valued by employers – Need to be able to think for yourself and make independent judgements • You also need to develop your own arguments and defend them with reasoning and evidence
For more help: • Contact: monica.fernandes@brunel.ac.uk • Or attend a consultation time either on Monday 11:00-12:00 or Wednesday 14:0015:00 at MJ 234