J. Kelly Robison
Objective:
The document analyses have been assigned to help make the student more aware of a period in history by examining a first-hand account of that period. This will, hopefully, help the student to become more in tune with what was going on in that period and why.
Format:
The document analyses should be no more than one page in length. There is no need to attach a cover sheet, simply put your name at the top of the paper. The title of the document being analyzed should be at the top of the paper as well. Use standard fonts of standard size. Ten or twelve point are fine. Margins should be one on either side, top and bottom. Double-space the paper.
Body:
First, briefly describe the content of the document, noting the time in which it was written, its general theme or themes, the author (where appropriate) and other factual material that seems appropriate to mention. This is the easy part. All you are doing in this section is summarizing what the author has to say.
Second, and this is the more difficult section, compare or analyze this document to the appropriate section of the text, noting how the document illustrates, amplifies, or explains textual themes or narrative. Don't bother trying to find the particular document in the text. Oftentimes the documents are not mentioned by name. You do have to read the text book though. What you are trying to do is set the document within the context of the times. Why is this document important? How does it help to explain a certain time period? Why does the professor think I should read this? If you keep these questions in mind, the second part of the analysis should go smoothly.
Getting the second part of this assignment down to an art-form takes time and practice. Don't let initial setbacks discourage you.
Here are a few examples of good document analyses:
John Smith: Description of Virginia