How to Analyze an Historical Document

DOCUMENT ANALYSIS EXERCISE (DUE Wednesday, November 19)

INSTRUCTIONS: After reading the assigned primary document, address the following questions as completely as possible.  Responses must be formatted in accordance with the following guidelines:

• Center the title, “How to Analyze An Historical Document” in bold at the top (as per the attached guide) with the title of your specific document centered below it.
• Begin with Level One, formatted as it is on the attached guide, and number your responses to the level one questions as they are on the guide.  It is not necessary to rewrite the entire question – however, you should refer to the question content as completely as possible in your essay response.  For example, a response to Level One, Question 2 might read, “The intended audience for this document is a group of political officials who were called together in 1900 to make a decision on….”
• Single space WITHIN your response and double space AMONG each question/level – exactly as it is structured on the attached guide.  When your work is complete, your document should look exactly like the guide, with the exception, of course, that it will include responses where there are now questions.  Be sure to staple the RUBRIC to your paper.
•  The levels become more complex or detailed as you go on, so, of course, Level Three questions require a bit more thought and consideration than do Level One questions.  Be sure to provide a response that is as complete, correct, and comprehensive as possible.  
• Do not ASSUME your reader knows who or what you are talking about in any of your responses.  This approach forces you to explain or expand on your response so that it is complete.  In other words – if the author of your document is John F. Kennedy – it is important to explain WHO John F. Kennedy was.  Perhaps include date of birth, date of death, or his position, affiliation, etc.  Such details help to paint a more complete picture for your reader.  Perhaps you have to speculate a bit about your author because he/she is obscure – you are free to do so.
• Refer to the Document Analysis Rubric as you go along.  This includes the guidelines for grading your document analysis, therefore, the elements included in the rubric are what I will be looking for in your document analysis as it is graded and affixed a score.
• To access your document, take the following steps:

• Go to the CCAC Library Homepage (available through the CCAC website – www.ccac.edu) – select “Student Services” at the top and, then – “Library”
• Choose Databases A to Z (under Find Articles on right side of page)
• Choose American History Online
• Type the TITLE of your document in the search box provided on the American History Online main page.
• Be sure to use the PRIMARY SOURCE (as it is indicated in the search results, to the right of the document title).  DO NOT use Event/Topic/Biography.

Documents assigned:

GROUP 1:  Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954) 

GROUP 2:  Report on the President’s Commission on the Status of Women (1963)

GROUP 3:  Port Huron Statement (1962)

GROUP 4:  Communists in the State Department (1950)

                                                                                Jane Doe