HOW TO WORK A DOCUMENT
APPARTS
One means of coming to grips with the real meaning of a primary source is to apply the
APPARTS method. You should learn to do this every time you come into contact with a new
document. Remember, just reading the words, does not mean that you understand the
significance of the document itself. A few moments spent applying this tool will help you obtain
a better understanding of the text in question.
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Author - Who created the source? What is their point of view?
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Place and Time -Where and when was the source produced?
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Prior Knowledge - What do you already know that would further your understanding of this
sources?
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Audience - For whom was the source created? Does this affect the reliability of the source?
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Reason - Why was this source produced at the time is was produced?
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The Main Idea - What is the source trying to convey?
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Significance - Why is this source important?
With all this being said, I would not force you to write all this information each time you
encounter a document, but you should consider all these factors. This is especially true when
working on DBQ’s. Often time is of the essence so you will be writing short hand notes that to
the casual observer does not align with APPARTS. Just make sure you have thought about all of
these things if you want to fully work a document.
One way to save time is to be consistent with the location of your note taking. If you know
where the information you need to the write the essay is, you will spend less time turning pages
or re-reading documents.
I suggest the following note taking method. It is not required, but give it a try. Record a basic
list of plot summary info to the left the document, the point of view info directly above the
document (so that it is close to the source info), any grouping ideas & analysis to the right of the
document, and if the given document sparks ideas about a missing voice, put these ideas below
the doc.
Author (Place & Time, Audience)
What is the POV of this document? (why would
THIS person be saying/creating THIS document at
THIS time and THIS place?)
Source: Zhi Dun, Chinese scholar, author, and confidant
of Chinese aristocrats and high officials during the
period when northern China was invaded by central
Asian steppe nomads, circa 350 C.E.
The Main Ideas
What is the main idea
being conveyed? (list
significant traits, note
doc meaning, evidence
to be used later.)
Whosoever in China, in this era of sensual pleasures, serves the
Buddha and correctly observes the commandments, who recites
the Buddhist Scriptures, and who furthermore makes a vow to be
reborn without ever abandoning his sincere intention, will at the
end of his life, when his soul passes away, be miraculously
transported thither. He will behold the Buddha and be enlightened
in his spirit, and then he will enter Nirvana.*
*Nirvana: the extinction of desire and individual
consciousness
Missing Voice (optional)
(think of some more information that would help
“flesh out” the information contained in this
document.)
Significance
What characteristics
does this document
share with other
documents?
(how does this
document help me to
answer the question
that was asked? how
would you group or
categorize the
documents?)
Another way to think about working documents is to break the document down into different
levels of understanding. Most documents can be interpreted on three differing levels. The
following guide is intended as a blueprint for you to use as you investigate the value of each
document. Notice that the ideas are basically the same as APPARTS, but this is a different way
of organizing your ideas if you prefer it.
LEVEL I
These questions should allow you to obtain concrete answers. While level one questions are
seemingly straight forward they are the key to understanding the entire document. You should
either underline or make notes in the margins to answer these questions.
1. Who wrote this document?
2. Who is the intended audience of the document?
3. What is the story line?
LEVEL II
Level two allows you to look behind the essential facts. Your goal should be to learn what the
document is really about. You now want to see the document as a "neutral observer" and be less
accepting of the facts contained with the text. On level one the document told you the answers.
One level two you begin to question the document.
1. Why was this document written?
2. What type of document is this?
3. What are the basic assumptions made by this document?
LEVEL III
Both levels one and two have real answers, for which there is little debate. Level three allows
and requires you to exercise your critical imagination. Your answers may vary from someone
else, but the critical point is that your answer be connected to historical fact and not just wild
ramblings on your part. This level may require you to do additional research to understand and
arrive at an answer.
1. Can I believe this document?
2. What can I learn about the society that produced this document?
3. What does this document mean to me?