As you read and study, remember that knowledge and understanding are developed over time by scholars, researchers, and professionals debating and discussing issues. By being familiar with the arguments and different points of view, your papers and presentations are contributing to the conversation. This is how history develops.
Think of the sources you read to explore your topic (articles, books, films, videos, images, or websites) as different threads in the conversation. Just like blog posts, each source expresses different ideas, observations, discoveries, or interpretations of the historical problem or question you choose to address.
As you read your sources, try to figure out how they relate to each other:
So when you read your sources, think about the story they're telling you and about what they each have to say about that story.
By actively reading your sources as if you're participating in an interesting, complex discussion, when you write your paper, you'll be able to demonstrate to your teacher that you have a deeper understanding of your topic.