you go up to 10-15 people on the street or at a bar and point out an older building that has clearly changed owners and ask each person if they know what used to be there before. i learned to draw the most difficult way possible and then discovered tracing and i imagined that those who really wanted to learn to draw would do what you are saying you do which is try to draw free hand instead of tracing because it builds your confidence and helps you to see. 