CHAPTER 2

CONTENT
AND
CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS
OF SELECTED PRIMARY
SOURCES
 HISTORICAL METHOD

refers to the collection of

techniques and guidelines that 
historians use to research and
write histories of the past. 
 IMPORTANCE OF HISTORICAL
METHOD
1. Helps us in finding solutions for contemporary
problems
2. Provides an understanding of the trends that have
happened before
3. Provides an understanding to the importance and
repercussions found in cultures.
4. Provides the reevaluation of the historical data and
facts already presented
 TEXTUAL CRITICISM

• comparison of a
particular text with related
materials in order to
establish authenticity
 CONTEXT AND CONTENT ANALYSIS

•Ensures that the source

and the information in it
are both credible,
factual, and logical.
 CONTENT ANALYSIS

• Determines whether the information

in the source is logical
• Logical information ensures that the
knowledge received is based on
truths.
1.MAIN IDEA: what does the source
want to say in general?
2. SPECIFIC INFORMATION: the details
presented supports and strengthens the
main idea. Details also serve as
basis to make the main idea truthful.
 CONTEXT ANALYSIS

• Determines the credibility of

the source.
• The material should be
reliable, trustworthy, and
credible
 CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS
• method of studying text and its cultural,
social, or political context. It is often used by
historians, art critics, or sociologists.
• Thorough knowledge of what the source is,
who produced it, where, when and why it
was produced.
1. BACKGROUND OF THE EVENT: what was happening
at the time of writing the source?
2. BACKGROUND OF THE AUTHOR: what was the
author’s profession? How old was he/she? Where was
he/she when the source was written?
3. TYPE OF SOURCE: is the source a diary? A
newspaper article? A report to the officials? A painting?
The type of source helps in determining why the source
was made.