Inquiry skills

The following are integral to the teaching of inquiry skills in Ancient Studies.

Students:

• research historical and/or archaeological materials and select information on the basis of relevance
• evaluate the authenticity, origin, reliability, usefulness, limitations, and contestable nature of sources
• analyse and synthesise evidence from different types of sources to develop an informed argument
• pose hypotheses and/or ask focusing questions to guide inquiry and to develop a coherent plan for inquiry
• analyse texts to place events in their historical and/or literary context and appreciate that the past can be explained through a variety of narratives and perspectives
• evaluate differing perspectives on the past to understand the contestable nature of historical and/or archaeological knowledge and to draw reasoned conclusions
• analyse evidence of the historical concepts of evidence, continuity and change, cause and effect, perspectives, interpretations, and contestability
• communicate ideas and arguments appropriate to context, purpose, and audience
• examine and explain the contributions of past civilisations to contemporary cultural understandings and perspectives
• analyse how texts have been adapted for modern audiences in representing the past through creative works, such as film, novels, drama, visual arts, music, fiction, poetry, video games, web pages, and other texts
• practise ethical scholarship, including use of appropriate referencing techniques.