Analyzing a primary document is intended to get students into original sources (rather than

secondary sources or what other people say about an historic author, theology or topic).

After taking time to observe, reflect and ask probing questions of the document you are

expected to write a two page response outlining your observations and analysis. The

paper must conform to standard university expectations of coherent argumentation, good

diction, grammar and formatting (i.e., double spaced, 12 pitch, appropriate font and 1 inch

margins, etc.). For this assignment please do not use external sources. The task is to

identify implications, make inferences and relate the document to your developing

understanding of Christian thought.

The following are tips to help you think about the document:

OBSERVE Students should identify and note details. Sample Questions: 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 now that you didn’t

earlier?

REFLECT Students should generate and test hypotheses about the source. Where do you

think this came from? Why do you think somebody made this? What do you think 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 important? If someone made

this today, what would be different? What can you learn from examining this?

QUESTION Have students ask questions to lead to more observations and reflections.

What do you wonder about… who? what? when? where? why? how?

WHAT format is this document (letter, diary, official speech, creed, treatise, etc.)? Was it

published, or unpublished? What historical event might it help me address?

WHO wrote this document? From this document, what can we tell about the perspective of

the author(s)? Does the document suggest that the author(s) point of view was widely

shared, or was it controversial and confined to a few people?

WHEN? How does the document reflect the time when it was written or created? What

does it say about the events underway at the time? What does it suggest about how that

particular time was perceived by the author(s)? by other people? What else was going on

at this time that helps me understand it?

WHY was this document created? What is its purpose? What situation or issue does it

address.

Who is the intended AUDIENCE? How did the audience shape what the author(s) says?

How would the intended audience be likely to read the document? How would people who

were not among the intended audience be likely to read it?

Think carefully about the choice of words in the document. How do the words in the

document reflect the author(s), the time, and the intended audience? Does the author(s)

choice of words reveal covert assumptions . . . along with an overt message?

In crafting your analysis do not simply answer these questions point by point but prioritize

them and weave your observations, reflections and observations into an appropriate

written response.

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