How to Analyze a Photograph How to Analyze a Political Cartoon Analyzing Sources: Question Matrix Questions for Analyzing All Primary Sources (determining credibility) Who created the source and why? Did the recorder have first-hand knowledge of the event, or report what others saw or heard? Was the recorder a neutral party or did the author have opinions or interests that might have influenced what was recorded? Did the recorder wish to inform or persuade others? Did the recorder have reasons to be honest or dishonest? How to Analyze a Text Why do you think the document was written? What evidence in the document helps you know why it was written? Is there a bias or certain perspective that the author is writing from? List DETAILS and BIG IDEAS presented in the document. How to Analyze a Photograph 1.What is the subject of the photograph? What does the photograph reveal about its subject? 2. What is the setting for the photograph? 3. What other details do you observe? 4. When and where in the past do you think the photograph was taken? How can you tell? 5. How would you describe the photographer's point of view? How to Analyze a Political Cartoon List the objects, people or symbols you see in the cartoon. What do you think each symbol means? Describe the action taking place in the cartoon. Are there words? Do they help to clarify the cartoon’s symbols? In your opinion, what is the message of the cartoon? Do you think others will interpret it differently?

How to Analyze a Documentary or Historical Film Analyzing Sources: Question Matrix How to Analyze an Artifact Why was this object created? What and where would it have been used? What does the artifact tell us about the technology at the time it was created? What can it tell us about the life and times of the people who used it? How to Analyze a Historical Map When and where was the map produced? What details has the map-maker chosen to include (or exclude) in order to complete this representation? Why do you think the map was drawn? How to Analyze a Documentary or Historical Film 1.   State the title of the film and the year it was released. Then briefly describe what the film is about.  2.  Identify the people, places, events, or aspects of people, society or nature that are the focus of this film. Describe and clarify the significance of each. 3. List six facts described in the film that impressed you and explain how each fact relates to the film’s premise or theme. .com – A commercial site. Purpose to sell a product or service. May have a built-in bias that you must be aware of. .biz – A business that could be trying to sell a product or service. May have built-in bias. .edu – A school, university, museum, or educational site. Normally reliable. .gov – A U.S. government site. Normally reliable. .int – An international institution. Normally reliable. .mil – A U.S. military site. Normally reliable. .museum – A museum. Often reliable .name – An individual Internet user. Not reliable and may have bias .net – A network service provider, Internet administrative site. .org – An organization, often non-profit. These sites can provide accurate information, but usually have bias. .pro – A professional’s site. ~ (tilde) or % – A personal site that varies in its credibility Examples of Domain Suffixes Another strategy designed for evaluating Web content is to examine the end or suffix of the domain name. This helps to: 1. gauge the validity of the information and 2. gauge any potential bias.