Evidence and Story Angle
Before you tell the story, lock down what you actually know. Sort facts from informed guesses from guesses. Think AS your character — only what they could see, think, care about, not know. Then pick one strong story angle.
For each of these three lenses, write down what you know — and label every line as FACT, INFORMED GUESS, or GUESS. This is the most important habit in the whole project.
The three labels
| Label | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| FACT | We know this. | "The object is made of clay." |
| INFORMED GUESS | We think this because we have a reason. | "I think it was used daily because it is simple and strong." |
| GUESS | Maybe, but we do not have enough reason. | "It was used in a secret ceremony." |
Log every source before you use it
A source is a thing someone made. It becomes evidence when you use it to answer your question. Google is a door. A chatbot is a door. The library is a door. A source has: who made it · when · where it was published. If you cannot say those three things, you have not found a source yet. Fill one block per source:
- What is it?
- Who made it? When? For whom? Why did they make it?
- What is this good evidence FOR? (Not "is it reliable?" — reliable for what?)
- What can it NOT tell us?
- Where did I actually get it? Not "Google". Not "AI". Who published it?
Lateral reading — done AWAY from the source
Leave the source. Open a new tab. What do other people say about whoever made it? Do not judge a website by how it looks — logos are easy to fake.
What each type of source is good for
| Type of source | Good evidence for | Weak evidence for |
|---|---|---|
| An object, image or document from the time | the moment, and the maker's position | anything the maker could not see |
| A catalogue or collection record | when, where, what it is made of | the people around the object |
| A history book or article | interpretation, background (check when it was written) | — |
| A museum label or exhibition text | orientation | contested questions; whose side it takes |
| News | how people reacted at the time | the long view |
| Wikipedia | finding other sources | anything you have not followed up |
| An AI answer | nothing | everything |
AI output is never evidence.
AObject
What can I literally see or verify? Examples: materials, wear, size, data, labels, etc.
BContext
What was happening then? Examples: Conflict, trade, politics, religion, work, migration, etc.
CPerson — think AS your character
Do NOT invent everything. Use what you know from the object, the museum information, your notes (use only FACTS or INFORMED GUESSES).
| SEE | THINK |
|---|---|
| Only what your character can really see. Do NOT imagine things you cannot see. Show what + where + detail. | What does your person think and WHY? You must give a reason. |
| CARE | NOT KNOW |
|---|---|
| Why it matters. What happens if it is not there anymore? Why is this important for your person? | What can your person NOT know? They are not omniscient. They are inside their time. |
Worked example
"I am a temple worker. I see a clay lamp on the temple wall. It is dark and has burn marks. I think it is used every day because it has many burn marks. I care about this because I need it to see at night. If I don't have it, I cannot do my work. I do not know who made it because I was not there."
This whole step works with no AI at all — object, label, exhibition text and your own notes are the material. If you do use AI: it may help you decode difficult language. It may not be a source. Anything an AI tells you has to be checked against something already in your evidence list before it earns a label.
A story angle is the main idea of your story. It shows what your historical figure faced, wanted, feared, chose, or changed.
ABrainstorm story angles
- Take post-its.
- Write one story idea per post-it. Each idea must be one sentence.
- Try to make at least 5 ideas.
- Use the templates below as inspiration. Share your angle.
| Type | Sentence template |
|---|---|
| The pressure | [Name] feels pressure to… because… |
| The dilemma | [Name] must choose between… and… |
| The turning point | "Everything changes when [Name]…" |
| The hidden conflict | [Name] seems to…, but actually… |
| The object story | "This object matters because it helps [Name]…" |
Examples · A soldier → must choose between obeying orders and protecting a civilian. A merchant → risks his reputation when a trade deal goes wrong.
BChoose your best story angle
Pick the story angle that scores best on these four questions:
- Is it connected to our object?
- Is it based on evidence or informed inference?
- Does it show a clear pressure, dilemma, or change?
- Does it help us understand this person's historical perspective?
CWrite down your story angle
A good story angle is not just: "This happened."
A good story angle shows: "This person faced a difficult situation, and their choice helps us understand their world."