Raw History Lesson Plan—Using Primary Sources

Primary Source Worksheet

1. What type of document is this?

____ Artifact

____ Monument

____ Building

____ Photograph

____ Letter or Diary

____ Newspaper

or Magazine

____ Advertisement

____ Petition

____ Legislative or

Court Records

____ Business Record

____ Census, Land, or

Military Record

____ Illustration

____ Map

____ Music

____ Speech

____ Patent

____ Telegram

____ Other (Explain)

2. What is the date of the primary source? If it isn’t evident, what clues could you use to estimate the date?

3. Who created this primary source? If it isn’t evident, what clues could you use to narrow the possibilities?

4. Summarize what this primary source is about.

5. Why was it created? If it isn’t evident, what clues could you use to help figure it out?

6. Does it have a point-of-view? Is there any bias or prejudice to this primary source?

7. What does this primary source say about the person who created it?

8. Why do you think this primary source has survived over time? What does it say about the people who saved it?

9. How does this primary source relate to slavery? What does it show about American society of the time?

10. Is this primary source a reliable proof of the past? Does it contain biases or prejudices that limit its reliability? Does self-interest limit its reliability? Does physical distance, lapse of time, or memory loss limit this document’s reliability?