HOW TO READ A SECONDARY SOURCE
These are the kinds of questions that historians ask when they read what other historians write.
Follow this format as you work through historical articles and monographs. After a while, the
questions will become second nature to you and you won't need to consult this sheet. Then you
will have become a critical consumer of history-writing.
General:

What is the topic (the subject, the material covered) of the piece?

What type of historical approach does the author take? Is the frame of reference economic,
political, intellectual, social, religious, diplomatic, cultural, psychological, ecological,
military, anthropological, or something else?

What is the author's thesis (the central argument, the main point, the interpretation)? To
identify the thesis, ask yourself the following questions: What is the author setting out to
prove? What is the author trying to make you believe about the topic? How is the author
trying to change your mind? Why is the author writing this work? What question is the
author trying to answer and what is the answer offered to that question?
Historiographical Contribution:

What is new about the thesis or the handling of the topic? How does this work alter our view
or our understanding of the scholarship on this subject? How does it change the scholarly
debate? How does it advance our knowledge? Why was it worth publishing?

Who are the author's opponents (whether named or unnamed)? Who would likely disagree
with the thesis? What would the opponents' objections be?

What is at stake in the debate? Why would the author's opponents disagree with the thesis?
Why is it important if one or the other side is right? What are the larger implications of the
scholarly controversy?
Argumentation:

What unspoken assumptions and silent choices does the author make? What is whispered
between the lines? What values or prejudices or biases does the author bring to the
discussion? Do these fatally weaken the thesis?

What things are slurred over, covered up, ignored, or left out? What does the author not
discuss? Do these omissions fatally weaken the thesis?

Is the overall argument persuasive? Is the logic sound? Is the analysis convincing? Are the
inferences responsible and plausible?

What is the best point made in support of the main thesis?
How To Read a Secondary Source
2
Methodology and Evidence:

Are the methods that are used appropriate for the subject? Given the topic, does the author
employ the proper historical approach?

Is the research adequate? What kinds of primary and secondary sources are used? Are these
sources appropriate? Why does the author assume that these kinds of sources are
appropriate, pertinent, and valid evidence to prove the thesis?

Is the evidence sound? Is the evidence sufficient to support the inferences? Does the author
demonstrate the points or simply assert them?

Is the evidence handled fairly, in context and without distortion? What potential evidence or
sources does the author leave out or ignore?

What is the best piece of evidence given in support of the thesis?
Structure and Writing:

Is the piece well structured? Do the points follow one another in a coherent and sensible
sequence? Does the argument flow or does it stumble? Does the structure of the piece
support or weaken your willingness to buy the thesis?

Is the piece well written? Does the author's writing style invite you or put you off? What is
the best sentence or paragraph in the piece?
Critical Assessment:

If you were going to attack this piece, what approach or strategy would you use? What are
its vulnerabilities? What weaknesses would you point to?

After attacking the piece, what counter-thesis would you propose to replace the one advanced
by the author?

If you had to defend the piece against your own attack, what would you say in its support?