Download Origin: Purpose: Value/Limitations:

Origin:
1. When was the source created?
2. Who or what organization/country created it?
3. Where & when did it first appear?
4. What was the historical context in which it was created?
5. What is the structure of the source (e.g. government form, map, speech, film, etc.)?
6. Rock star question: What is the proximity in time of the source to the event?
All of the above questions can be answered in 1-2 sentences.
Purpose:
1. Why did the author create the source?
2. Who is the intended audience and what does that tell us about the purpose of the source?
Do not SUMMARIZE the source, just answer the questions above in 1-2 sentences.
Value/Limitations:
1. What is the perspective of the author? Why might this perspective be valuable for studying
the topic? Why might this perspective limit our study of the topic? (DO NOT USE THE WORD
“BIAS”)
2. What is the significance of the origin and how is this valuable? For example, it is important to
know that Abe Lincoln was the PRESIDENT when he composed the Emancipation
Proclamation.
3. How might have the intended audience influenced the message of the source? For example,
Bill Clinton will have a different message when speaking to fellow Democrats than he will if
he is speaking to the general public.
4. Who is the speaker and what does this tell us? For example, is it A GERMAN CITIZEN speaking
about the rise of Hitler or is it THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT?
5. Why should we trust the author? Is she a historian, witness, etc.? Provide proof.
All of the above questions can be answered in 4-6 sentences.