ument Analysis：文献分析.doc

Document Analysis Origin Purpose Values Limitations Questions to take into account while conducting an OPVL Level 1: Concrete answers/ basic information 1. Who created this document? 2. Who is the intended audience? 3. What is the story line? Level 2: Begin to understand the document 1. Why was this document written? 2. What type of document is this? 3. What are the basic assumptions made in this document? Level 3: Probe the document and develop your own assessment of its value 1. What can I (HISTORIAN) learn about the society that produced this document? 2. What does this document mean to me (HISTORIAN)? Document Source Types: Values and Limitations (To take into account) DOCUMENT ANALYSIS: OPVL OPVL: The purpose of document analysis is to figure out the USEFULNESS of a document, not necessarily what its content says. This must be done in paragraph format and in complete sentences. ORIGIN: Who wrote it, when was it written and what it was written for (was it a book, scholarly journal, etc). This applies to photographs and other graphics as well. PURPOSE: Why was the document written? Why was it published? What purpose could it serve at the time it was produced? VALUE: Why is this source valuable to the historical community? What can be gained by the historical community by looking at this document? Limitation: What is the weakness of this document? Does bias keep proper history from being delivered? Is it a reliable source? Private letters, diaries, and memoirs Values Can provide an intimate glimpse into the effects of historical events on the lives of individuals experiencing them first-hand. If the source was never intended to be read by a large audience, its contents might be of a more candid and revealing nature. An eye-witness’s account of events she/he witnessed Valuable as a study of the personality of its author/creator Reveal the point of view (bias) of the author Limitations If the document was intended for disclosure, it runs the