OPCVL
Objectiveness in hindsight
Knowing the context of the political climate of the time
Education is always a plus
More educated on the subject, is more likely to encounter more points of view
Origins:
What is the document? – Primary or secondary?
What type of primary or secondary source?
Who produced the document?
When was the document produced?
Where was the document produced?
Purpose:
What is the document’s purpose? What is the message in the document?
What claims does the author make?
Who is the audience? – if a letter – from who to whom?
A speech – who is the audience?
Why was it produced?
What else was going on at the time the document was produced?
Content:
What is the specific content of the document?
Who are the important people, places, dates, and events that are mentioned?
Is the content meant for the public? Was it originally produced for a private purpose?
Does the content attempt to explain a situation or event?
If it is a graph or picture
what exactly are you looking at?
Does the photograph seem “staged”?
Value:
Every document has some value or worth
What is the Point of View of the author? (P.O.V) –
how does this help explain the document’s message, AND why is it important to know
What evidence does the author use to support any claims made? What pieces of evidence are most believable?
How does the document help shed light (explain further) the period of study?
Why is this document important?
Limits:
Every document has limitations (things that are missing or need further explanation)
What is the Point of View of the author? (P.O.V)
how does this help explain or limit the document’s message AND why is it important to know ?
What information is missing? What pieces of evidence are least believable?
What questions do you have of the document or the author?
Is the document all that important to helping us understand the time period or event – if not – why not?