2. Literacy in history

Literacy in history!

Literacy is different in each of your subject areas and history does not get a pass.
Sure, there is the reading of texts and comprehension of texts (like in English class) but there are also subject specific skills needed to analyse historic sources and texts. There is also those strange words that are unique to historic context.

Those are strange words...

Why did Britain send convicts to Australia?
Why do groups of people rise up against their rulers and take their place?
Why is Middle Eastern culture different to Australian culture?


To understand what has happened in history requires you to know certain words and what they mean.

Historic ideas and concepts

Historic ideas, terms and concepts need to be defined in order to understand historic events and changes in societies. These ideas largely shape our modern world and it is important for us to know what these mean in order for us to understand why people, places and countries are different.  

Did you know that the word "Laconic" in the image above simply means using very few words??
In this case, the designer wanted to 'sum up' a country using one word.

Let us take a look at some of those crazy historic words that we would need to know for history.

Here are some examples:

• Nationalism
• Imperialism
• Socialism
• Chartism
• Egalitarianism
• Social Darwinism

So many "ism's"!!! 

"ism" is a very important suffix for historical ideas. This helps to change the noun into an abstract noun. And "abstract" means that it not physical. e.g. Love, hate, thought, evil, fear and beauty.

Here are some definitions taken from the Australian curriculum grade 9 history text book's glossary.

Imperialism

The process of acquiring and maintaining colonies for economic and strategic purposes (Carrodus et al., 2012, p. 283).

In other words, a country taking land off others for their benefit.

Socialism

A political and economic system that advocates that the means of production, distribution and exchange should be regarded and owned by everyone in society and  managed by the state, rather than by individuals. (Carrodus et al., 2012, p. 284)

In other words, The government of a country controlling business, resources and finances but it's shared by everyone. i.e. no millionaires.   

Chartism

A 19th century movement in support of the development of a people's charter with the aim of electoral and social reform (Carrodus et al., 2012, p. 282) 

In other words, political reform; to make things fairer in British politics.

Egalitarianism 

The belief that every person is born equal in terms of rights and opportunities (Carrodus et al., 2012, p. 282).

In other words, everyone should be treated equally. 

Social Darwinism 

Charles Darwin's theory of evolution applied to the social sphere, whereby 'the survival of the fittest' became the doctrine for the treatment (or the lack of treatment) of 'unfit members of society. (Carrodus et al., 2012, p. 284)

In other words, some people used evolution as a way to be racist. Predominantly used to make 'white' people superior to 'black' and Asian people.

Videos 

Videos are a great literacy style. Videos are entertaining and informative at the same time. Here are a few great videos by John Green found on YouTube. They will help you to understand some of these important ideas in a historic context. The first is on Nationalism. A very important idea to understand. John talks fast so you may want to watch it a few times to grasp all of what he says!! 

Here is another great video from John Green. It will help you understand Capitalism and Socialism as economic (how a country uses money) systems. 

         

This is also a great video by John Green on Imperialism.

Let us continue by looking at digital literacy by clicking on this link.