Primary Source Analysis Guide

Name:

Date:

📖 Part 1: Source Identification & Context

1. What type of primary source is this document?

Letter or diary entry

Speech or public address

Government document or declaration

Newspaper article or editorial

2. Who is the author of this source and what is their perspective or role?

3. When was this source created? What major historical events were happening at this time?

4. Who was the intended audience for this document?

5. In one clear sentence, state the central idea or main argument of this source:

6. How do the author's ideas or the events described develop from the beginning to the end of the source? Describe the progression:

7. Find a specific quote or detail from the source that best supports the central idea you identified above:

Quote or Detail: "________________________________________________"

Explain why this evidence supports your central idea:

8. How reliable is this source for understanding this historical period? Consider the author's position and potential bias:

9. What questions does this source raise that would require additional research to answer?

10. Write a 4-5 sentence summary of this primary source using the structure below:

Sentence 1: Central idea

Sentences 2-3: Beginning ideas or events

Sentence 4: How ideas develop or shift

Sentence 5: Supporting evidence with a quote or detail