Document Title:_______________________________________________

Establishing a context and intent for the source:

Author:

Time/When was it written?

Briefly describe the culture of the time and list related events of the time

Purpose (Why was the document created?)

Audience (Who was the document created for?)

Understanding the Source:

What problems/issues/events does the source address?

What are the main points/ideas/arguments?

What assumptions/values/feelings does the author reflect?

What actions/outcomes does the author expect? From whom?

Evaluating/Interpreting the source:

Authenticity/Reliability (Could the source be invented, edited or mistranslated? What corroborating evidence do you have about the source? Does the author know enough about the topic to discuss it?)

Representative. (How typical is the source of others of the same period? What other information might you need to find this out?)

What could the consequences of this document be? (What would happen if the author’s plans were carried out? What could happen to the author when people read this? How might this document affect or change public opinions?)

What were the actual consequences? What really happened as a result of this document?

Short-term

Long-term

What new or different interpretation does this source provide about the historical period?