Name: Dalit, Diana Rose J.

Course/Year/Section: BSBA 1-J

Subject: Readings in Philippine History

F. Reflection
 How can analysing primary sources contextually and in terms of content enable you to
understand and appreciate our history?
ANSWER: When you analyze a primary source, you are undertaking the most important
job of the historian. There is no better way to understand past events than by examining
the sources that people from that period left behind. Each historian, will approach a
source with a different set of experiences and skills, and will therefore interpret the
document differently. While there is no one right interpretation, interpretations should
still be supported by evidence and analysis. If you do not do a careful and thorough
analysis, you might arrive at a wrong interpretation. In order to analyze a primary source
you need information about two things: the document itself and the era from which it
comes. You can base your knowledge on class materials and other credible sources.
You'll also need to analyze the document itself. Understanding past events and how they
impact the world today can bring about empathy and understanding for groups of people
whose history may be different from the mainstream. You will also understand the
suffering, joy, and chaos that were necessary for the present day to happen and appreciate
all that you are able to benefit from past efforts today.