Socials 10

Tuesday, September 22nd

1. History vs the Past
2. Knowledge vs Thinking
3. Determining Significance
4. Essay Time

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What is the difference…

… Between history and the past?

• The past is everything that has ever happened – every event, person, thought, belief, feeling, etc.
• History is the interpretation of events from the past.

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… Between thinking and knowledge?

History is an interpretation of events from the past

• Interpretation means it is based on what other people think or have decided is important about events.
• Sometimes, the interpretation is designed to shape what we think about it. Usually there are political reasons for this
• Therefore, it is our job as critical thinkers to question these interpretations rather than accept them as fact.
• We will form our own judgements based on evidence and arguments, and by looking at a variety of perspectives.
• That’s what “doing history” is all about.

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Historical Significance

Which is more significant?

….When Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars, or Taylor Swift’s 2023-24 Era’s Tour?

….Toronto Raptors NBA Championship win (2019) or death of Kobe Bryant (2020)?

….burning of the Notre Dame cathedral (2019) or the Amazon rainforest fires of 2020?

….the election of Barack Obama (2008, 2012) or the election of Donald Trump (2016, 2024)?

...the Pope’s official apology for the impact of residential schools (July 2022), or the discovery of 215 remains in Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc (May 2021)?

…. the discovery of penicillin (1928) or insulin (1921)?

…. When Elon Musk took over Twitter (now X), or the death of Queen Elizabeth?

Historical Significance

Events, people, developments are determined to be significant if:

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1. They have had an impact or resulted in change:
1. The impact may have affected people deeply (emotionally)
2. The impact may have affected many people (scope of impact)
3. Change may be long-lasting (duration of impact)
4. The event lead to other important changes or discoveries (cause & effect)

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• They are revealing:
• ….tell us something about society at the time Ex. people’s values, point of view
• ….shed light on issues that are new or enduring

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• They are novel:
• People at the time thought it was interesting or important (constructed)
• It is part of the “narrative”, the agreed upon story about a group or event

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Which is more Significant? Why?

….When Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars, or Taylor Swift’s 2023-24 Era’s Tour?

….Toronto Raptors NBA Championship win (2019) or death of Kobe Bryant (2020)?

….burning of the Notre Dame cathedral (2019) or the Amazon rainforest fires of 2020?

….the election of Barack Obama (2008, 2012) or the election of Donald Trump (2016)?

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...the Pope’s official apology for the impact of residential schools (July 2022), or the discovery of 215 remains in Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc (May 2021)?

…. the discovery of penicillin (1928) or insulin (1921)?

…. When Elon Musk took over Twitter (now X), or the death of Queen Elizabeth?

1. Impact or Change

• Deep impact / emotional
• Scope of impact / many people
• Lasting impact / a long time
• Lead to other changes / cause & effect

2. Revealing

• Tells us something / sheds light

3. Novel

• Given importance / constructed
• Part of the narrative

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Explaining Significance

You must refer to the criteria you are using when explaining why an event or person is significant. Which criteria match each of these statements?

1. The election of Donald Trump for his second term is significant because he is a person who people either love or hate.
2. The election of Donald Trump for his second term is significant because he has already enacted many policies that have had an impact people both in America and around the world
3. The election of Donald Trump for the second time is significant because it tells us that many Americans are frustrated and believe he can help them.

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Explaining Significance

4. Taylor Swift is a significant because she is the first female singer-songwriter to have a net worth of $1billion.

5. Taylor Swift’s Eras tour is significant because it attracted millions of fans from all over the world, lasted for two years and included multiple shows in each city.

6. Taylor Swift’s Eras tour is significant to a generation of young people who are inspired by her and her music.

Your Turn

Practice applying the criteria for Significance by using the event list provided, and matching them to the criteria on your worksheet.

Choose events that you know about!

|f you don’t know any, choose some that you DO know about.

Who is more significant, Mark Carney or Donald Trump?

Although Mark Carney is Canada’s Prime Minister, Donald Trump is arguably more significant because ….

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Although Donald Trump is the President of the most powerful country in the world, Mark Carney is more significant in the Canadian context because….

Key Terms

Depth of impact - consequences were deeply felt emotionally, the impact was profound

Scope of impact - many people were affected, possibly for a long period of time

Constructed - an event, person, or development is believed to be important. It may not have actual value or significance, but it occupies a meaningful place in a narrative. Because significance is constructed, it varies from group to group.

Revealing - an event, person, or development is revealing if it sheds light on how people thought, felt, or behaved at the time.

Narrative - dominant story that most people believe to be true

Novel - refers to something that is new or different that things that came before it.

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“NAME”

NOVELTY

APPLICABILITY

MEMORABLE

EFFECT