Primary Source Questions

• Who created the source and why? Was it created through a spur-of-the-moment act, a routine transaction, or a thoughtful, deliberate process?
• Did the recorder have firsthand knowledge of the event? Or, did the recorder report what others saw and heard?
• Was the recorder a neutral party, or did the creator have opinions or interests that might have influenced what was recorded?
• Did the recorder produce the source for personal use, for one or more individuals, or for a large audience?
• Was the source meant to be public or private?
• What are the major points of interest?
• Did the recorder wish to inform or persuade others? (Check the words in the source. The words may tell you whether the recorder was trying to be objective or persuasive.) Did the recorder have reasons to be honest or dishonest?
• Can you summarize or encapsulate the source in 3 sentences without leaving out major points of interest?
• Was the information recorded during the event, immediately after the event, or after some lapse of time? How large a lapse of time?
• Why is this source important, and what larger themes does it reflect?