Learning Objective: Understand how to assess the value and limitations of a source with reference to its origin, purpose and content What s the point? All sources must be approached with caution When reading a source one must consider who wrote it, why they wrote it, what is included, what is left out, and how helpful this source will be to a historian s investigation (N.B. What a historian is trying to learn is crucial to how we must understand a source s values and limitations.) Origins Author Date of original publication Date of any additional additions Location of publication How might the time, place, and author of this work affect the work produced? For example: Mao Zedong or Ho Chi Minh will have different interpretations of their respective civil conflicts than the American government officials who supported interference with them Purpose: Why did the author write/draw/compose this work? * Who is the intended audience? * Does this author have something to hide? * Is he/she trying to convince anyone of something? * For example: Is this a textbook that is written to inform a high school student or a press conference given to reassure the American public?
What is the message of the source? How is the message conveyed through pictures and images? What is the tone? Is the language objective or does it sound exaggerated or one-sided? What information or examples does the author use to support their point? A Definition of Primary and Secondary Sources a. Primary letter, journal, interview, speeches, photos, paintings, etc. Primary sources are created by someone who is the first person ; these documents can also be called original source documents. The author or creator is presenting original materials as a result of discovery or to share new information or opinions. Primary documents have not been filtered through interpretation or evaluation by others. In order to get a complete picture of an event or era, it is necessary to consult multiple and often contradictory sources. b. Secondary materials that are written with the benefit of hindsight and materials that filter primary sources through interpretation or evaluation. Books commenting on a historical incident in history are secondary sources. Political cartoons can be tricky because they can be considered either primary or secondary. A Note on Primary and Secondary Sources For the purposes of evaluation, a source has no more or less intrinsic value to historians just because it is primary or secondary. Always focus on the specific origins and purpose of the source not whether it is primary or secondary. You do not need to give this distinction in your answer. VALUE How is this source useful to your investigation? What is the author s purpose and how can that perception aid your investigation? Has this work been particularly well researched? Is this a secondary source? If so, does that allow the author distance to create an objective argument? Is this a primary source? If so, does that allow the author to provide a viewpoint that no one else can? (since they experienced it for themselves?)
Limitations What about this source hinders your investigation? Does this author only present part of the story? If this is a secondary source, does the author deliver only part of the story? (i.e. Are there any important details/perspectives missing?) If this is a primary source, what viewpoint does the author present? What is missing from his/ her side of the story? Limitations Explained: The task here is not to point out weaknesses of the source, but rather to say: at what point does this source cease to be of value to us as historians? With a primary source document, having an incomplete picture of the whole is a given because the source was created by one person (or a small group of people), naturally they will not have given every detail of the context. Do not say that the author left out information unless you have concrete proof (from another source) that they chose to leave information out. Also, it is obvious that the author did not have prior knowledge of events that came after the creation of the document. Do not state that the document does not explain X (if X happened later). A Note on Bias: Being biased does not limit the value of a source! If you are going to comment on the bias of a document, you must go into detail. Who is it biased towards? Who is it biased against? What part of a story does it leave out? Sometimes a biased piece of work shows much about the history you are studying. How to Write About : Origin In one or two sentences state the origins of the source. What type of document is it? When and where was it produced? Who produced it? How to write about: Purpose In one or two sentences state the purpose of the source. The purpose of the source Who was the intended audience?
For what purposes was it written? Key Words to possibly use here: Persuade Inform Debate Sell Convince Detail Outline Rally Communicate Describe Entice How to Write About: Value In one or two well-written paragraph(s) explain the value of the document for historians. Provide and explain specific evidence from the document to support your answers. A minimum of two values must be proven with reference to origin, purpose, and content. With reference to the origin and purpose, what is the value of the document for historians studying this event? Example: This document is valuable because it was written and the author was. This shows that. Key Words to possibly use here: Bias Propaganda Public Writing Historical Perspective Advertisement Campaign Letter Memoir Private Writing Written at the time of the events How to Write About: Limitations In one or two well-written paragraph(s) explain the limitations of the document. Remember to make specific references to the document in your response. A minimum of two limitations must be proven, with reference to origin, purpose, and content. With reference to the origin, purpose, and content what are the limitations of the document for historians studying this event? Example:
Because this document was written by in, it has a limitation of. Key Words to possibly use here: Bias Propaganda Advertisement Historical Perspective Campaign Letter Memoir Private Writing Public Writing Written at the time of the events Template This origin of this source is a that was written by in in. Its purpose was to so. A value of this is that it. However, a limitation of the source is that it. Example: The origin of the source is a letter that was written by Thomas Jefferson in 1787 in Virginia. Its purpose was to convince George Washington to veto the National Treasury so there would be no central bank. A value of this document is that it shows how the anti-federalists were feeling about Alexander Hamilton's idea for a National Treasury. However, a limitation of the source is that it only shows Thomas Jefferson's perspective and not the view of the other side.