Choosing a teaching subject depends partly on whether students can reach enough evidence to complete the assigned work. American Civil War and British naval history materials are abundant in English, giving students access to varied accounts. Expanding a curriculum into subjects with less accessible evidence can require more original research. If that work increases, the assignment's credit allowance should increase or the number of assignments should fall. Otherwise, a student who has exhausted a very small body of available sources faces assessment criteria designed for someone able to compare many sources. The teaching argument concerns fair workloads and evidence requirements.
Notable Point · 4:11:30-4:14:11
Source availability shapes what can be taught fairly
The range and accessibility of sources affect which historical subjects can support balanced student assignments and detailed instruction.