3.4.1 Critically assessing primary sources

• Primary sources are original records created during the historical period under investigation
• Primary sources always originate from the time period under study.
• Match the type of primary source with an example:

  Written documents ↔️ Speeches

  Visual media ↔️ Paintings

  Physical artifacts ↔️ Tools

  Audio recordings ↔️ Interviews
• Primary sources provide firsthand perspectives, while secondary sources offer analyses and interpretations
• Match the aspect with its description for primary and secondary sources:

  Origin of primary sources ↔️ Created during the period under study

  Purpose of secondary sources ↔️ Contextualize historical events

  Content of primary sources ↔️ Original records and accounts

  Example of secondary source ↔️ History textbook chapter
• Understanding the author's background is crucial for contextualizing their perspective.
• Key aspects of an author's background include social status, political affiliation, cultural upbringing, and personal experiences
• Match the background aspect with its significance:

  Social Status ↔️ Influences perspectives

  Cultural Upbringing ↔️ Affects values

  Political Affiliation ↔️ Shapes viewpoints on policies

  Personal Experiences ↔️ Provides context for motivations
• Context in primary source analysis includes both internal and external factors.
• Internal context refers to details within the source, such as its tone, purpose, and language
• External context encompasses broader historical, social, political, and economic factors
• A 1930s political cartoon about the New Deal must be analyzed considering the Great Depression's economic conditions.
• Match the type of context with its example:

  Internal Context ↔️ Author's choice of words

  External Context ↔️ Impact of New Deal policies
• What is the external context that must be considered when analyzing a political cartoon from the 1930s about the New Deal?

  Great Depression
• The internal context of a source includes elements such as tone, purpose, format, and language
• The author's choice of words in a letter is an example of internal context.
• What does understanding the purpose of a source help reveal?

  Author's motivations
• A scientific report describing the effects of climate change is an example of a source with the purpose To Inform
• What type of purpose is associated with a political speech urging voters to support a candidate?

  To Persuade
• Match the purpose of the source with its example:

  To Inform ↔️ Scientific report on climate change

  To Persuade ↔️ Political speech urging voters

  To Entertain ↔️ Comedy sketch

  To Record ↔️ Personal diary
• What does the term "tone" refer to in the context of source analysis?

  Author's attitude
• A scientific research paper typically uses a formal and objective tone
• A comedy sketch is an example of a source with a humorous tone.
• What are primary sources essential for in historical analysis?

  Firsthand accounts
• Match the type of primary source with its example:

  Written document ↔️ Anne Frank's diary

  Visual media ↔️ 1920s flapper dresses

  Physical artifact ↔️ Tools from the period

  Audio recording ↔️ Speeches or interviews
• Secondary sources are written after an event by historians or commentators
• Why is understanding the author's background crucial for source analysis?

  To identify biases
• The author's social status can influence their perspectives and priorities.
• Understanding the context of a primary source involves considering both internal and external factors.
• What does internal context refer to in source analysis?

  Details within the source
• Match the type of context with its example:

  Internal context ↔️ Author's choice of words

  External context ↔️ Impact of the New Deal policies
• The purpose of a source is the author's intent in creating the document
• What is one of the key significances of understanding the purpose of a source?

  Reveals author's motivations
• Order the common purposes of sources by their primary characteristics:

  1️⃣ To Inform: Presents facts and explanations objectively

  2️⃣ To Persuade: Advocates a viewpoint using emotional appeals

  3️⃣ To Entertain: Provides amusement or enjoyment

  4️⃣ To Record: Documents events for historical reference
• What does understanding the purpose of a source reveal about the author?

  Motivations
• The author's motivations influence the tone, language, and selection of information
• Identifying biases in a source is unnecessary for accurate interpretation.

  False
• Match the purpose with its characteristic:

  To Inform ↔️ Presents facts objectively

  To Persuade ↔️ Advocates a viewpoint using emotions

  To Entertain ↔️ Provides amusement using humor

  To Record ↔️ Documents events for reference
• What techniques does a political speech use when intended to persuade?

  Rhetorical techniques, emotional appeals
• The author's intent in creating a source is referred to as its purpose.