Primary Source Analysis
Paper instructions:
IV.Fourth Graded Assignment: Primary Source Analysis
OK, so what is a primary source? It can be defined as anything created by someone involved in an event, about the event. For example, it could be a diary or a
picture. The following URLs will take you to places on the web that discuss primary sources.
“Identifying Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Sources.” William Madison Randall Library at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington
http://library.uncw.edu/web/research/topic/identifysources.html
“Using Primary Sources on the Web.” American Library Association’s Reference and User Services Association.
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/sections/history/resources/pubs/usingprimarysources/index.cfm
Note that with the current technology, primary sources can be digitized and presented on the web for viewing and analysis. And while there is no substitute to
holding the actual source and studying it, we cannot always made the trips required to view and study them. So having digital copies becomes a very helpful means of
viewing primary sources.
The National Archives has created document analysis worksheets to help you work with primary sources. They are available online at:
http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/worksheets/
The worksheets consist of a combination of checklists and short-answer questions that will help you focus on the most important elements of many different types of
historical documents. You will use the information you gather on the worksheets to report on your primary sources.
You can download a PDF conversion for you printer (free) that will allow you to save materials as PDF files: http://www.pdf995.com/download.html
Find two (2) primary sources (any type for which there is an analysis worksheet) on your chosen topic. Your course textbook can give you a good start, either with
reproductions of such sources or reference information to help you locate a given source. There are also a number of Web sites such as those of the Library of Congress
and the National Archives that contain digitized copies of primary sources that you may use. Please use copies of the primary source – not a transcription – you want
to see it as it looked when created/used.
For each primary source you find, create a separate entry that includes all of the following information:
A complete citation (as you would include it in your bibliography) for the site, including the URL and your date of access. You should note that the required
style for this class is Chicago. The UMUC Information and Library Services folks have put together a tutorial on using this style and also some links to examples of
various types of sources formatted in it. Go to the History Resource Guide (http://libguides.umuc.edu/content.php?pid=10993&sid=73579) and click on the tab “Chicago
Style.” On the left side of the screen you’ll find a several links for using this style. Click on “Cite Right: Chicago” and view the interactive tutorial. The text
version is also available if you have trouble viewing the Flash version.
The type of primary source (e.g. written document, cartoon, photograph, and so on).
Write a summary of the information based on the information collected using the primary analysis worksheet
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