INITIAL ACTIVITY:

Another Fake News!?

Instruction:
Study the images from different articles below, then answer the following questions:
1. Is Mocha Uson, the PCOO assistant secretary, correct in labeling GMA News
article as an example of fake news? Explain your answer.

2. Which of the following online sites will you consider as reliable source of
Fak information? Explain your answer.
e
news is now a trending issue in social media. It is also sometimes used as an expression by
millennials to describe rumors or topics that are not true. However, discerning true and fake
news is a challenging task, especially to youths that rely mainly in social media to validate
information. Similarly, in history, historical “hoax” is not unusual since factualness of stories
from the past are hard to determine. However, this should not be an excuse for any historians
to easily claim any historical information without further validation.

This lesson will guide the students to determine the authenticity and credibility of historical
sources. This is an important skills to acquire in order for you to not become a victim of false
information.

Are you ready? Let’s start!

GE
What is Historical Criticism?
In order for a source to be used as evidence in history, basic matters about its form and content
must be settled. This may be done through:
1. External Criticism evidence. It refers to the process of
2. Internal Criticism scrutinizing every

-RIPH Readings in Philippine History

LESSON 1. B
Lesson 1.A.docx Historical Criticisms: External and Internal Criticisms

aspect related to its forms. This is to prevent

EXTERNAL CRITICISM is a the use of evidence that are fabricated,
historical criticism that addresses the forged, and faked in making historical
problems of authenticity of the claims. It will also distinguish which

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 evidence is a hoax or misrepresentation

(Gottschalk, 1969).

So, how can you practice external

criticism in order to determine the
authenticity of any existing historical
Article 2
Article 1
sources?

Here are the tests you can do:

TEST EXAMPLES

1. Determine the date of Example 1.

the document to see Pencils did not exist before the 16th Century.
whether they are anachronistic. Therefore, any claim about the period earlier
This means, the use of a person than 16th Century that is supported by pencils
or thing in support of a should be easily negated.
particular claim but their
existence does not fit to the time
period being studied.

Neuman (2003); retrieved from:

https://researchgate.net

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 Example 2. You must not see Jose Rizal in any
photo holding an iPhone.

2. Determine the author of the Example 1.

document. It is with utmost
importance that the author of the
document claimed to be of
historical value must be revealed
or at least given identity.
What is the handwriting style of the author? How
about the signature?
Example 2.
Does s/he use a seal?

3. Look for the anachronistic style. Example 1.

This is the use of language that The use of abbreviation in daily communication
does not fit with the time it like SKL which stands for “share ko lang”.
describes. It could be idioms,
orthography, and punctuation.

4. You have to determine if there is Example 1.

any anachronistic reference of The use of correct periodization like pre-colonial,
events. colonial, post-colonial in Philippine history.

5. You have to determine the Example 1.

provenance or custody of the The origin of “Lupang Hinirang”.
evidence. Knowing its place of
origin provides you genuineness. Example 2.
The origin of “Rice Cultivation”

6. You have to determine the Example 1.

meaning of a text or word (Its The “Fray Botod” of Graciano López Jaena
Semantics).
Example 2.
Peninsulares, Insulares, Indio

7. You have to determine the Example 1.

ambiguities of the meaning of the The use of the term “Benevolent assimilation” by
word (Hermeneutics) the Americans.

Example 2.
The use of the term “Insurgency” to refer to the
actions of Emilio Aguinaldo and his troupe.

As you have learn, determining the authenticity of historical sources is a difficult task to any
historians, and even you as students of this course. However, once you master the tests
authenticity, I guarantee you that this difficult task would become an enjoyable one for you.
Now, the next topic will help you to determine the credibility of historical source. This is also an
important aspect in historiography. Are you ready? Let’s learn!

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 INTERNAL CRITICISM on
the other hand, looks into the problems
of credibility of the
evidence.
Credibility refers to the accuracy of
the contents. It considers every

significant aspect the existing evidence

carries (Gottschalk, 1969).

How can you practice internal criticism

on any existing historical

evidence?

Neuman (2003); retrieved from:

https://researchgate.net

TEST PURPOSE
1. You have to look into the To determine the author’s reliability; mental
identification of the author. processes, and personal attitudes.

2. You have to determine the To provide contextual basis and validity.

approximate date.
3. You have to find out the author’s To determine how near the author was to the
ability to tell the truth. event; How competent the author was;
How much attention did the author pay when the
event happened.

4. You have to look into the author’s To determine if the author consciously or
willingness to tell the truth. unconsciously tells falsehoods.

5. You have to look for similar claims To collect independent scientific findings which
or discovery from other fields of provides another chain of supports to make the
sciences to establish evidence or claim more reliable.
corroboration.

Here are the

tests you can
do:

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 STUDY GUIDE
After going over the discussion on the historical criticisms, you are to answer
the following:

1. What is the importance of determining the authenticity and credibility of

historical sources?
2. Are primary sources, particularly monographs and letters, can be considered
credible sources of past stories?
3. Are the tests for authenticity and credibility of historical sources can be used
in determining social media’s “fake news”?
I hope everything is clear in this lesson, if not, do not hesitate to ask questions of clarification to
your teacher! It is better to fool for a minute rather than for a lifetime, right??

DO THIS!!
Instruction:
Read the two historical sources (Primary and Secondary Source) about the Katipunan and Tejeros
Convention. Analyze the given documents and answer the comparative matrix that will be
provided to you.

Reading list:
• Santiago Alvarez. The Katipunan and the Revolution: Memoirs of a General
• Teodoro Agoncillo. (2002). The Revolt of the Masses: The Story of Andres Bonifacio and the
Katipunan University of the Philippines Press. Quezon City. Philippines

To know if you understand the discussion in this lesson, do the activity below. This is your first
task that involves intensive reading of materials, so do your best! Good luck!

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 YOU MADE IT!! To finally end this lesson, please fill up
the emoji exit slip below!

https://templatelab.com

REFERENCES:
Candelaria and Alporha (2018). Readings In Philippine History. Rex Bookstore, Quezon City,
Philippines

Gottshcalk, Louis (1969). Understanding History: A Primer on Historical Method. A.A. Knopf
Publishing. New York.

Howell, Martha and Walter Prevenier. (2001). From Reliable Sources: An Introduction to
Historical Methods. Cornell University Press. Ithaca, New York

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