Every book or article has a point to make, which we call its thesis or argument . For example, you'll have no trouble figuring out the subject of Betty Wood's The Origins of American Slavery . Evidence Historians attempt to back up their arguments with facts. This will require you to read footnotes, endnotes, and bibliographies. Then you must consider whether the evidence put forward is appropriate and adequate to support the author's argument.
Historiography Think of history as an ongoing conversation about what happened in the past, and why.
Because, the book or article you are reading is a contribution to that conversation, you need to be aware of how it agrees or disagrees with what has already been said on the subject.