Summarize the passage in your own words. What is the style? What are the main points of the passage?
1.What sort of document is it? Is the source a journal? A letter? An official document? Who is the
author? And who is the intended audience or reader? When and where was the document written?
Sometimes the author will tell you explicitly. In other cases, the historian may need to make educated
guesses.
2. Summarize the passage in your own words. What is the style? What are the main points of the
passage? What keywords does the author use to convey his or her point of view? Is the language
formal or informal? Does s/he use reasoned arguments or metaphors/imagery? (This should be two
paragraphs: one that summarizes the passage and one that discusses the language of the text.)
3. Why was this document created/what purpose does this document serve? Consider why the author
has decided to create this document. What has motivated them to write this? Does this source
represent a group perspective? An individual perspective?
4. What is the historical context? History is premised, in part, on the notion that any document can
tell us something about the time and place in which it was produced, and, conversely, that time and
place can help us understand the document. What was going on when this document was created?
Does the author represent a particular perspective from this era? How might these circumstances help
us understand this document? Refer to your lecture notes for help on this one if needed. BE
SPECIFIC!!!!
5. What is missing? What perspectives and information is not present in the source? How does this
help us to better understand the perspective put forth by this individual or group? What is this
document trying to hide, either by not mentioning it at all, passing over it quickly, or obscuring it in a
footnote? Does the document contradict itself? Please note: you will be reading excerpts of larger
primary sources – it is not an acceptable answer to say in your response “what is missing the rest of the
document.”
6. How does this source help us to better understand the era we are studying? Why is this source
significant? What does this source tell you about the past? What unique perspective does the source
offer? Ultimately, in trying to answer this question, consider why this source was selected for you to
read in connection with the course material. Please refrain from discussing your personal opinions or
modern events. Focus on the document within its own historical context. Remember, the past is a
foreign country: they do things differently there.
Answer preview Summarize the passage in your own words. What is the style? What are the main points of the passage?
APA
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