Primary Source (usually a document) Analysis ACAPS
• Author – Who created the source? What do you know about
this person or his/her point of view? How might this affect the
meaning? Gender? Race or Ethnic Group? Religion? Social
Class? Age? Job?
• Context – When and where was the source created? What
important events were occurring at the time? How might this
affect the meaning?
• Audience – For what audience was this source created? How
might this affect the meaning? Does the audience have any
biases or prejudices?
• Purpose – For what reason was this source created? How
might this affect its meaning?
• Significance – What can be learned from this source? What is
its main idea? Why is it important? How does it support a
thesis?
Complete an ACAPS over any 3 of
the following 5
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
Stonehenge – page 23
Mesopotamian Cylinder Seal page 36
Pyramids – page 43
Wall painting page 54
Any of the Amarna Letters on page 67
SQ3R reading method
• Many students find it difficult to read college
level textbooks because the reading often
includes words and concepts with which
students are NOT familiar. As a result,
students find it difficult to focus on the reading.
Students say their minds wander and they can’t
remember what they’ve just read. To be a
successful reader, you must make reading an
“active” and not a passive activity. SQ3R is a
process that will keep your mind focused so you
can read, understand, and remember.
SQ3R reading method
• Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review
When your teacher assigns you to read 15 pages
from a chapter, begin by looking at the chapter
title. Look at the subheadings and dates so you
will know about time and place. Flip through
the pages and look at pictures, charts, maps,
and graphs.
On average, expect an hour of homework for
each hour in class. This is not negotiable.
Sample: SQ3R
Read page 5-6.
AFRICAN GENESIS: Interpreting the evidence.
Don’t begin until you understand what the words in the
subheading mean: Genesis? Interpret? Evidence? If you
don’t know, look them up in a dictionary.
Write down 3 things that you think you should remember about
this section of reading:
1) What evidence suggests that humans originated in Africa?
2) How was that evidence discovered and analyzed and by
whom?
3) Where and when did humans originate in Africa?
After reading a section…
Go back and answer your questions. Add any other information
you think is important. Define any words in black bold print.
* What evidence suggests that humans originated in Africa?
* How was that evidence discovered?
* Where and when did humans originate in Africa?
Why do this? By going to the trouble of reading in this way, you
WILL do 2 important things:
•
•
You will be studying as well as reading. You WILL retain the
information much better than reading the regular way.
You will be making notes that you can review later.