Primary Analysis

For this assignment, you will analyze the primarydocument you selected in Part One. The best way to analyze a primary document is by asking questions about itscreation as a historical document. Itis therefore crucial to understand the historical and cultural context in whichthe document was written. Though a brief summary of the document is welcome,the main focus should be trying to understand what message this person (orgroup of people) was trying to convey.

My APHARTSguide to document analyses:

• Author:  Who is the author and what is his/her/their background?  When did the author live? What is the authors point of view? Was it a group of people who wrote the source?
• Place and time: Where and when did the author produce this source? How might this affect the meaning of the source (ex. a diary entry vs. memoirs)?
• Historical context:  What was happening when the document was written?
• Audience: Who was the intended audience?
• Reason: What was the motivation to write this document?  What did the author intend to accomplish by writing the source?
• The Main Idea: What is the main point the author is trying to convey? Summarize the authors main point(s).
• SO WHAT? (or Significance): Why is this source important? Is this source important? Always ask So what? so that you can answer how this document either aids in our understanding of an event or provides an alternative view.