WRITING GUIDE

Document analysis is the first step in working with primary sources. Students need to think through primary source documents for contextual understanding and to extract information to make informed judgments.

Using these worksheets — for photos, written documents, artifacts, posters, maps, cartoons, videos, and sound recordings — students will understand the process of document analysis.

Follow this process:

1. The steps are the same each time, for every type of primary source:

1. Meet the document.
2. Observe its parts.
3. Try to make sense of it.
4. Use it as historical evidence.

[NOTE: The first time students work with primary sources, careful modelling of this document analysis process, using the worksheets, will be helpful.] 

2. Once students are familiar with using the worksheets, they can analyze documents as a class or in groups without the worksheets, vocalizing the four steps as they go.

3. Eventually, students will internalize the procedure and be able to go through these four steps on their own every time they encounter a primary source document.

REMEMBER: Practice this same careful analysis with every primary source you use.

Click on an image below to access a PDF (downloadable) copy of each worksheet.

For Younger Students	For Older Students

SOURCE: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Teachers' Resources URL: https://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/worksheets

 Materials created by the National Archives and Records Administration are in the public domain.