Writing a Primary Source Analysis

            Analyzing a primary source helps us understand historical periods and the events that occurred. Whether the source is a journal, a digitized letter, or a sculpture, we can analyze and interpret many aspects of the source, such as the source’s purpose, topic, genre, author, historical era, and more. Even though there are multiple ways to interpret a source, and each interpretation brings a unique perspective, you could create a factually incorrect interpretation if you are not careful. Here are three tips to get you started on planning and interpreting a primary source:

Look at the Whole Source

Examine the entire source, including the physical nature and the details within it. Much of our interpretation arises from how we interact with the source itself. 

Ask yourself questions like: 

• What is it made of?
• How was it preserved? 
• If it’s a written source, what are the media of transmission and preservation? 
• If it’s a digital source, what can we see from the digitization process? 

Beginning your analysis with large details before narrowing your focus allows for insight, not only into the messages within the source, but also how the was preserved (or modified) throughout historical interactions. This gives the beginnings of insight into the source’s purpose and reception. 

Author and Audience

Part of analyzing a primary source involves understanding the author’s intention for the document and understanding its message. This involves doing surrounding research to learn what was happening in history that led to the source’s creation. Understanding the author’s time and situation, along with knowing the intended audience helps you better understand the source’s purpose and analyze the message.

Some questions you may ask include: 

• Who was the source written by? Who is the target audience?
• What do you know about the sources’ genre?
• Does the author use specific keywords, or are there hidden meanings? 
• Are there visual hints that can help you understand the source’s commentary?
• What are the source’s limitations?

Be Selective

You will not be able to cover everything in the source, and you should not try. Trying to take on every single question will lead to a shallow analysis. Instead, it is often better to focus on specific details and provide in-depth interpretation. Picking only a few questions to answer allows your paper to go in-depth and answer all the “why” and “so what?” questions, without worrying about addressing every aspect of the source.

For more information on interacting critically with source material, consider reading the following handouts, Analyzing Literature, Writing about Art, and the Close Reading blog post, on the SSC Writing Support Page.