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Analyzing Historical Sources: Key Considerations

Understanding historical sources involves evaluating their origin, purpose, value, and limitations. Explore who wrote it, when, where, and why. Assess the historical insights it offers, potential biases, and limitations. Approach each source with critical thinking.

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Analyzing Historical Sources: Key Considerations

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  1. These are the things you need to consider when looking at a historical source. Origin Purpose Value Limitation

  2. Origin • Who wrote it? • When was it written? • Where was it written? • What was going on there at that time? (Does this have an obvious impact on the work?)

  3. Purpose • Why was it written? • What was the author trying to accomplish by writing this? • Is it politically motivated? • Is it emotionally charged? • These last two points are tricky… you need to make sure you understand them before you claim that a source is either!

  4. Value • What historical knowledge can be gained from this document? • Can any specific insight be gained about the author/creator? • Can any specific insight be gained about the situation being presented?

  5. Limitations • Is the author/creator of the document biased in any way? • Does the purpose of the document possibly skew the actual meaning? • Does the author possibly have limited knowledge of the situation on which he/she is writing? (Why do you think so?)

  6. A Couple of Final Notes • PLEASE DO NOT address each and every question when writing your OPVL, just consider them and address them if necessary… not necessarily in the terms used. • Limitations are more difficult now than they will be later – don’t make up something just to have a limitation. If it’s not there, then it’s not there. • If you say there is a limitation, you BETTER be able to BACK IT UP!

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