Name _______________________________

Primary Source Analysis Tool

Respond to the primary source by considering the following questions.

You may go back and forth between the columns; there is no correct order.
You do not need to address all sample questions.

OBSERVE REFLE QUESTION

Identify and note details.
• What do you notice first?
• Find something small but
interesting.
• What do you notice that you
didn’t expect?
• What do you notice that you
can’t explain?
• What do you notice that you
didn’t earlier?
Source
#____
CT
Try to generate and test hypotheses Ask yourself questions that lead
about the source. to
more observations and
reflections
Where do you think this came What do you wonder
from? about...
• Why do you think somebody • who? • what? • when?
made this? • What do you think • where? • why? • how?
was happening when this was
made?
• Who do you think was the
audience for this item?
• What tool was used to create
this?
• Why do you think this item is so
important?
• If somebody made this today,
what would be different?
• What can you learn from
examining this?

Source
# ____

Primary Source Analysis Tool adapted from Library of Congress

Name _______________________________

Source
#____

Source
#____

Source
#____

Primary Source Analysis Tool adapted from Library of Congress

Name _______________________________

Source
#____

Source
#____

Source
#____

Primary Source Analysis Tool adapted from Library of Congress

Name _______________________________

Primary Source Analysis Tool adapted from Library of Congress