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?