Download Analyzing Sources

 Where
does the source come from?
 Who is the author/artist?
 When was it written/published?
 What country did it come from?
 What medium or genre it is in (letter,
pamphlet, diary, memo, speech,
newspaper, book, poster, etc.) ?
 What
was the reason for producing it?
 Who was the audience?
 What was the author trying to
communicate?
 What was the goal of the document?
(This is especially important when it
comes to persuasive and propaganda
pieces)
How does the source help the historian piece
together a cohesive narrative or theory about
how events are linked together?
 What may it tell us about a topic or position a
person or group has?
 Is it a primary or secondary source? How close
to its topic was the author?
 If it is secondary, how qualified is the author to
comment on the topic?
 Bottom line: What is this source good at helping
us understand? Remember: some of its value
may be linked to its origin and purpose.

Ask some of the same questions: Is it a primary
or secondary source? How close to its topic was
the author? If it is secondary, how qualified is the
author to comment on the topic?
 What pitfalls might we have to be cautious of?
 Are there any inaccuracies in the source? Is it
translated?
 Are there biases in the source (it is not enough to
simply point out there is bias, identify and explain
the bias)?
 Bottom line: What is this source not good at
helping us understand? Why? Remember: some
of its limitations may be linked to its origin and
purpose.

Try to give a balanced approach to value and
limitation.
 In regards to origin, make sure you are familiar with
major political events, people, groups, etc. of the era
you are studying. This is critical to determining what
perspective this source is coming from. (Think of
political cartoons!)
 Do not disregard a source because you think it is
“just” propaganda.
 Remember that the purpose often relates to the
origin.
 Keep different historical interpretations in mind. We
know that Schools of Thought change because or our
understanding of historiography.
 Bias of some kind is present in every source. It does
not make a source worthless.
