ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the collections of primary sources. The historian examines many other sources from the same creator or time period in order to better understand that main source. The chapter introduces two essential big-picture practices: listening to primary sources and using them to create credible narratives to share with others. It describes “the Five Cs”—comparison, causation, contextualization, continuity, and change. The chapter explains two other methodological approaches used by historians: quantitative and qualitative data analysis. It focuses on synthesis, a tactic that historians use to see the proverbial forest through the trees. The chapter outlines some of the most vital tools of the historian's craft; when used well, they help us to understand the meanings and significance of our source base, to develop conclusions, and to construct viable narratives about the past.
