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writing in the disciplines
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primary source analysis
A primary source analysis is a common assignment at the University of Minnesota. While it takes many forms depending on the course, a typical primary source analysis asks students to do the following:
identify the source
For this task, writers answer questions like...
- Who produced the source?
- When was it produced?
- Who is the document written for? Who else might have been reading it?
- Does the author explain why he/she is writing or speaking? What is the explanation?
- If the author does not explain his/her intentions, then what do you think they are?
- Is the writer responding to a particular person or event?
put the source into historical context
For this task, writers answer questions like...
- What was going on during the time period in which it was produced? How might the timing of its production relate to other events?
- How might political, social, religious, or economic events occurring at the same time have influenced the production of the source?
- How might common beliefs or trends during this time period have influenced the production of the source?
explain the significance of the source
For this task, writers answer questions like...
- What does the document reveal about the time period?
- What larger context or interpretation does this source help to explain?
- What is gained by looking at the source?
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