IDENTIFICATIONS

A common form of examination in History is an ID question (an identification question). Teachers differ greatly on what they expect in terms of length and detail. Be sure that you understand in advance what will be expected.

Some general principles normally do apply. To identify something, you need to answer the basic repertorial questions: Who? What? When? Where? You need to identify the person place or thing in question and to put it into some sort of geographical and chronological context. Keep in mind as a model the opening paragraph of a traditional newspaper article: newspapers written in a six or eight column format have short opening paragraphs (30-50 words) which tell a reader in concise terms all about what the full article will recount.

Most teachers also want something more, a "big picture" indication explaining why the thing being identified is historically significant. For students this can be the most difficult element because it requires thought, not simply memorization and repetition. To explain historical significance you need to look for distinctives. How does the subject differ from other subjects in its category? Or, more basically, why did you have to learn about this person or law or building or place instead of countless other possible alternatives? What made it so special that it showed up in the readings and lectures of this particular class?

What mistakes is it necessary to avoid? Do not write more than is required: although many ID subjects have had whole books written about them, on a test you need to dispatch them expeditiously. Do not write fewer IDs than are requested: because you will write first on the subject you know best, it is easy to get discouraged toward the end of ID writing and to just leave one or two unattempted. It is better to say what you know, even if it is only a geographical or chronological parameter--a teacher cannot give you any points for what has been left unattempted. Do not omit key elements of the ID simply because you do not know them exactly: it is better to put "ca." or "about" or "around" in front of a date, or to locate your subject approximately within a century or era, than to leave it chronologically undefined.