HIS-217 is Southern New Hampshire University's course on how historical narratives are built and why they differ.
The catalog says students explore the construction of historical narratives by examining different types of sources and interpretations, develop a holistic view of why history matters to contemporary audiences, become critical and responsible consumers of information, and examine how culture and diversity can play a role in the interpretation of historical knowledge.
The skill being tested is critical reading of accounts, not recall of events.
Course at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) |
| Course code | HIS-217 |
| Level | Undergraduate |
| Credits | 3 |
| Subject area | Historiography, culture and diversity |
| Typical work | Source and narrative analyses, discussions and a paper |
What HIS-217 Covers
| Area | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Construction of narratives | How historians turn evidence into a story |
| Types of source | Written, oral, visual and material evidence |
| Interpretation | Why accounts of one event can differ |
| Culture and diversity | How identity and background shape interpretation |
| Responsible consumption | Judging claims and information critically |
Key Concepts Explained
A Narrative Is a Construction
Historians select evidence and arrange it into a story. Different selections give different stories. Seeing this does not mean all accounts are equal; it means you must judge them by evidence and reasoning.
Whose Voice Is Present?
Ask who is speaking and who is missing. Official records often reflect those in power; oral histories, diaries and community archives may preserve other perspectives.
Worked example (invented case): two accounts of a town's founding. One, a civic anniversary pamphlet, credits a few leading families. Another, drawn from oral histories, describes labor by migrant workers. Your analysis compares purpose, audience and evidence, then explains how the differences change the meaning of "founding" without simply declaring one account worthless.
Critical Consumption
Check authorship, date, evidence and possible bias before relying on a source. This habit applies beyond history.
Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them
| Assignment type | What it tests | How to approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Narrative comparison | Recognizing interpretive difference | Compare purpose, evidence and omissions |
| Source analysis | Reading evidence critically | Place the source in its context first |
| Discussion | Reasoned engagement | Respond with evidence, not only opinion |
Where Students Get Stuck
- Assuming one true story. Compare accounts and judge them by evidence.
- Relativism. Differences in interpretation do not mean every claim is equally supported.
- Ignoring the source type. An oral history and a census need different questions.
- Generalizing about groups. Keep claims specific and evidence-based.
Analyzing Two Accounts
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1. Identify | Author, date, audience and purpose of each account |
| 2. Evidence | What each uses to support its claims |
| 3. Gaps | Who or what each leaves out |
| 4. Compare | Where the accounts agree, differ and why |
| 5. Judge | Which is better supported on which points |
What a Strong Paper Looks Like
Marks go to careful comparison and fair judgment. The table shows typical differences.
| Weaker response | Stronger response |
|---|---|
| Says accounts differ | Explains how and why, using purpose and evidence |
| Treats one account as true | Assesses each on its evidence and reasoning |
| Generalizes about groups | Uses specific sources and specific claims |
| Ignores source type | Reads each source according to its kind |
A Second Illustration
Invented prompt: "Compare two accounts of a labor strike, one from a company newsletter and one from a union leaflet." A strong response lists what each says happened, what each leaves out, and why, then concludes which details are best supported by other evidence, such as court or payroll records.
Before You Submit
Careful comparison needs a final check for fairness and precision.
- Have you identified author, date, audience and purpose for each account?
- Do you explain differences, not only list them?
- Do you judge accounts by evidence?
- Is your language about groups specific and respectful?
Asking "what evidence would change my mind?" is a useful way to test whether you are reasoning or just preferring one account.
Where HIS-217 Fits in the Program
HIS-217 is an undergraduate course that develops the source and interpretation skills introduced in HIS-100. It also prepares you for upper-level courses where you are expected to engage with competing scholarship, such as HIS-501 at graduate level.
The catalog links the course to becoming a critical and responsible consumer of information, so expect examples from outside the traditional archive. Treat each source as a voice with its own purpose, and keep notes in that form.
Use feedback on your first analysis to sharpen your questions; better questions produce better arguments.
Terms to Define in Your Own Words
- Narrative: a connected account that gives events meaning.
- Perspective: the position from which a source was created.
- Silence: what a source or archive leaves out, whether by choice or by accident.
- Interpretation: a reasoned explanation of what the evidence means.
Study Tips for HIS-217
- Use a standard set of source questions for every document.
- Practice paraphrasing an argument before critiquing it.
- Read at least one source from outside official records.
- Keep language precise and respectful when discussing groups.
How We Help with HIS-217
Send the prompt, sources, rubric and any draft. We can explain interpretation and source analysis, prepare a model comparison for study, or review your draft for argument, evidence and citations.
Work you submit must be your own under SNHU's academic integrity policy. GradeEssays is independent and not affiliated with Southern New Hampshire University.
Make Sense of HIS-217
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Frequently Asked Questions
How historical narratives are constructed and how culture and diversity influence interpretation.
SNHU's catalog lists 3.
No. It focuses on sources, interpretation and critical consumption of information.
No. Accounts are judged by evidence and reasoning.
The catalog refers to different types of historical sources; your syllabus lists specific ones.
Yes. We can help with criteria, structure and review of your draft.