Reading and Understanding Primary

Source Documents

U.S. History Survey

Declaration of Independence, John Trumbull, Wiki Commons/U.S. Capitol (CC-PD)

Primary Sources and Historical Study

HistoryThe act of analyzing and interpreting events

History is critical thinkingHistory is not just facts and datesPrimary Sources are the resource for

critical thinking in history

Five Elements of Analysis forPrimary Sources

ContextThesisPerspectiveAudienceSignificance

ContextRefers to specific time and placeRead introduction if availableRefer to others secondary sources for

background informationTextbook, lecture, scholarly websites, etc.

ConsiderWhat major social, political or economic

events may have effected the contents of the document?

ThesisWhat is the main point (or points)

being presented in the document?Consider

What key points are emphasized?What key terms or phrases arerepeated?

Can you summarize the document in a few sentences?

U. S. Declaration of Independence,Thomas Jefferson/William Stone

Wiki Commons, (CC-PD)

Perspective

What is the author’s point of view?Use secondary sources to find out more

about the authorConsider

What is his/her background?Do you see evidence of bias?Can you determine the author’s

motive in producing the document?

Thomas Jefferson,Charles Wilson Peale,

Wiki Commons,(CC-PD)

AudienceWho was the intended audience?Understanding the audience may help

to understand the motives of the author

ConsiderWas the document meant for public

or private reading?How does the indented audience

influence the information presented?

SignificanceHow is this document important to our

understanding of history and the human world?Consider

How does it shape our understanding of an event?

What does it tells us about the people and society in that place and time?

What questions can it help us answer?What questions can’t it answer?Can we connect it to the present?