Analyzing Primary Sources Checklist

Analyzing Primary Sources
Student Checklist

1. TYPE OF DOCUMENT (check one)

___ Newspaper ___ Map ___ Advertisement

___ Letter ___ Telegram ___ Congressional record

___ Patent ___ Press release ___ Census report

___ Memorandum ___ Report ___ Other

2. UNIQUE PHYSICAL QUALITIES OF DOCUMENT (check one or more)

___ Interesting letterhead ___ Notations

___ Handwritten ___ “RECEIVED” stamp

___ Typed ___ Other

___ Seals

3. DATE(S) OF DOCUMENT___________________________________________________

4. AUTHOR (OR CREATOR) __________________________________________________

5. AUDIENCE DOCUMENT WAS WRITTEN FOR ___________________________________

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6. DOCUMENT INFORMATION (There are many possible ways to answer A-E.)

A. List three things the author said that are important.

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B. Why was this document written?

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C. What evidence in the document helps you know why it was written? Quote from the document.
________________________________________________________________________

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D. List two things the document tells you about life in the United States at the time it was written.

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E. Write a question to the author that is unanswered by the document.

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