Primary sources questions/sources....?

[Rhondabee]

Did you do many primary sources in logic stage?

In re-reading the logic stage, I've been re-overwhelmed at exactly how much I've tweaked WTM to fit us - LOL! Still, I think we've done well for where we've started.

My only nagging concern is the lack of primary sources. In WTM it seems that primary sources are the main way to teach the "why's" of history. (Though it seems my 7th grader is so much more attuned to questioning/reasoning through the why's than my 4th grader, even without them.)

So, I'm trying to figure out a way to fit primary sources into our rhetoric plan. (I realize "Great Books" are a type of primary source, but I mean more speeches, journals, etc.) It seems I've heard that Spielvogel's Western Civ has primary sources included - is that correct? Do you think it would be enough?

I guess I could use the websites listed in the logic stage section of WTM, but that hasn't been very successful this go 'round iykwim. If you know of a book I could use instead, that would be great. I'm much better when I can hold something in my hand.

Thanks for your help!
Rhonda

[Gwen in VA]

If you go to various AP course websites (google for them), you should be able to get huge listings of primary sources, most of which are short.

Here are some websites that I found helpful:
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/
http://thecaveonline.com/APEH/Documenttitle.html
http://thecaveonline.com/APEH/Documenttitle.html

For American primary source documents I mostly used a book, "A Documentary History of the United States" by Richard Heffner

[Rhondabee]

Thanks! These are much more manage-able than the other sites I've been to!

[mcconnellboys]

If your library carries Hakim's History of US, the index book is filled, and I mean *filled* with primary source docs. There are a lot of books out there now that also include primary source excerpts within their chapters. Use of these is getting more popular in schools, so there are many newer books on "social studies" topics that incorporate them now, even for younger children. If you have a decent library, whenever you have some time, scan a shelf of books on a particular topic and I'll bet you'll find some with primary source info embedded; or ask your librarians for these and hopefully they can point you to some.

Regena

[Nan in Mass]

I have a big thick paperback of primary sources extending from very early to modern. We've only read a little out of it, but you might like the convenience. I'll look for the title if you want, but it is packed away so it will take me a few days to get to it. It might have been "In Their Own Words"? Spielvogel has some but perhaps not enough to satisfy you. I think they might have a book of primary sources as well, a suppliment.
-Nan

[Rhondabee]

baby-girl just woke up as I got to your message. So, let me check and see if I can find that book online before you search for it. It does sound like what I'm looking for!

Thanks, and I'll let you know what I find....