Ask Which Record Can Answer the Question

Match historical claims to suitable evidence and notice gaps.

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Ask what each record was made to record. Production totals can answer questions about output, while wage books or interviews may address different questions. A missing record is a gap, not proof of a particular story.

Worked example

A factory account that lists 500 finished baskets can support an output claim. It does not, by itself, show whether the workers were comfortable or how long they worked.

Production accounts lead to output evidence, while inspection records lead to evidence about working conditions. Neither alone answers every historical question. — Rising output does not establish workers' hours or wellbeing; compare records suited to each question.

Would you believe it?

A diary can be both evidence about an event and evidence about its writer. A source tells you something about the observer too.

A Fictional Workshop Archive

A workshop's production ledger lists 400 baskets in April 1924 and 500 in May 1924. An inspector's note dated May 8 says, 'During my morning visit, two windows were open.' The May wage book is missing. All records in this exercise are invented. No work-hours register or worker interviews have been provided.

Question 1 Which claim is directly supported by the production ledger? All workers became happier Recorded output rose from 400 to 500 baskets Every worker received a raise

Question 2 How many more baskets were recorded in May than in April? Answer

Question 3 Which record would best help investigate the hours people worked? A poster showing the workshop logo A basket color chart A dated work-hours register

Question 4 Why is the inspector's note not enough to describe every worker's experience? It records one visit and a limited set of observations Notes can never contain evidence A visit proves conditions never change

Question 5 The May wage book is missing. What is the most careful conclusion? May wages definitely doubled No workers were paid in May These records do not establish May wages

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