O.P.V.L. Source Analysis

Origin, Purpose, Value, & Limitation

Today’s Objectives

Content Objective

I can explain the difference between a Primary and Secondary Source

I can identify the questions to ask for each section of OPVL.

Language Objective

I can write responses to each section using complete sentences.

Today’s Key Terms

Primary Source

Secondary Source

Source Analysis

Source Analysis is at the heart of studying history. It requires you to interpret a source on multiple levels and to think deeply about what it says, how it helps you answer a question, and whether you can trust the source.

Primary Sources

Sources that are created at the time of the event by people who witnessed the events first hand. Diary Entries Photographs Letters Newspaper Articles Tweets

Secondary Sources

Sources that are created by historians after the events or time periods have already occurred. Secondary Sources use primary sources as evidence for their work. Textbooks Historical Fiction Movies

General Notes about OPVL

OPVL will help you organize your thoughts and think critically about the sources you work with.

You will not always be able to answer all the questions from each section.

Each question should be answered using complete sentences and you should be able to write a summary for each section using full sentences.

Origin

Goal: To identify basic background information about the creation of the document.

Questions include… Who created it? When was it created? Where was it created? When was it published? Who is publishing it? Is there anything we know about the creator that is

pertinent to our evaluation?

Purpose

Goal: To explain WHY this source was created. You should be only focusing on this source at this time.

Questions include… Why does this document exist? Why did the creator this source? What is the

intent/goal? Why did the creator choose this particular format? Who is the intended audience? Who does the creator

want to see this source? What is the main message (Thesis) of the source?

Value

Goal: To explain how this source helps you as a historian answer a question or understand the time period better.

Questions include… What can you tell about the creator from this source? What can you tell about the time period from this source? What can we tell about any controversies from this source? Does the creator represent a particular “side” of a controversy

or event? What can we tell about the author’s perspectives from the

piece? What was going on in history at the time that this source was

created?

Limitation

Goal: To explain how this source is not valuable to historians. Note: Having bias does not mean that it is not limited.

Questions Include… What part of the story can we not tell from this source? How could we verify the content of this source? Does this source inaccurately reflect anything about this

time period? What does the creator leave out and why do they leave it

out (if you know)? What is purposefully left out?