Primary Source Analysis Custom Essay

Instructions

Primary Source Analysis (15% of final grade) OK, so what is a primary source? It can be defined as anything created by someone involved in an event, about the event. For example, it could be a diary or a picture. The following URL will take you to the American Library Association’s web site discussion on primary sources, what they are, how to find them, and how to use them on the web: “Using Primary Sources on the Web.” American Library Association’s Reference and User Services Association. http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/sections/history/resources/pubs/usingprimarysources/index.cfm Note that with the current technology, primary sources can be digitized and presented on the web for viewing and analysis. And while there is no substitute to holding the actual source and studying it, we cannot always made the trips required to view and study them. So having digital copies becomes a very helpful means of viewing primary sources. The National Archives has created analysis worksheets to help you work with primary sources. Copies of these worksheets are provided as attachments in the Primary Source Analysis assignment. The worksheets consist of a combination of checklists and short-answer questions that will help you focus on the most important elements of many different types of historical documents. You will need the worksheets to complete the Primary Source Analysis assignment. Find two (2) primary sources (any type for which there is an analysis worksheet) on your chosen topic. Your course textbook can give you a good start, either with reproductions of such sources or reference information to help you locate a given source. There are also a number of web sites such as those of the Library of Congress and the National Archives that contain digitized copies of primary sources that you may use. Please use copies of the primary source – not a transcription – you want to see it as it looked when created/used. For each primary source you find, create a separate entry that includes all of the following information: A complete bibliographic entry (as you would include it in your bibliography) for the site, including the URL and your date of access. Here is a template for creating a bibliographic entry for a primary source: in Chicago Humanities Style. Author/Creator name (last/first name order) – if known. “Title of item (date created, if known).” Name of web site where item found. URL for the item (your date accessed). The type of primary source (e.g. written document, cartoon, photograph, and so on). Complete the worksheet in detail. Explain how the item pertains to your topic