READING 4

For students to have a glimpse of

using and analyzing primary
sources, the reading titled
“A Guide for Using Source or
Original Source Documents” by
Minnesota Humanities Center (n.d.)
is presented in this section.
Learning objectives:
after reading the text, each student will be able to:
1. Explain the process of Origin, Purpose, Value and
Limitation (OPVL) as a technique for analyzing
historical documents;
2. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of
primary and secondary data in historical writing;
3. Explain why “limitation” is the hardest stage in OPVL
technique;
4. Explain why being biased does not limit the value of
a source;
5. Compare OPVL with other techniques in analysing
historical documents
 1. What is an origin?
What questions can be
asked when evaluating
the origin of a primary
source?
 Origin is the point or
place where something
begins, arises or is
derived. It is knowing
where a document is
coming from.
The questions,
a. Who created it?
b. Who is the author?
c. When was it created?
d. Is there anything we know
about the author that is
pertinent to our evaluation?
 2. Why is there a
need to know the
origin of a primary
source?
 There is a need to know the
origin of a primary source
because the more you do know
about where a document is
coming from, the easier it is to
ascertain purpose, value, and
limitations.
 3. What are the
advantages and
disadvantages of
primary and secondary
sources?
- Advantages of referring to a
primary source is that you
can have confidence in
knowing that the original
material is untarnished and
intact.
 It has not been
misinterpreted by outside
parties, because you’re
getting to study straight from
the witness.
 The disadvantage of primary
source is it may also be
incomplete or unusable.
For example, if the writing or
audio recording is in another
language that you do not speak,
you wouldn’t understand
anything being said.
 And even if it is in English, you
may not have enough context to
grasp the full extent of what is
being said when you rely solely
on primary sources, you are only
relying solely on your own
knowledge when you interpret
the document.
That may not be sufficient in
extracting as much value as
possible out of the original
material/s.
The advantage of secondary
sources is it expands the
material in original sources.
They can provide a lot more
extent and meaning.
 It provides greater insight,
taking advantage of the author’s
expertise, experience, and
research-going above and
beyond what you may have been
able to glean from the original
content.
The disadvantages of secondary
source are inherently viewing
the original material through the
lens of a different writer or
content producer. Their
experiences and biases will
color how the information is
presented.
 4. What is a purpose?
What questions can be
asked when evaluating
the limitation of a
primary source?
 Purpose is the reason
for which something is
done or created or for
which something
exists.
The question that can be asked are the following:
a. Why does this document exists?
b. Why did the author create this piece of
work?
c. What is the intent?
d. Why did the author choose this particular
format?
e. Who is the intended audience
f. Who was the author thinking would receive
this?
g. What does the document “say”?
h. Can it tell you more than is on the surface?
5. Why is there a
need to know the
purpose of a
primary source?
It is a need to know the purpose of
a primary source so that you know
the real evaluation of the piece and
to figure out the purpose for its
creation, and to eradicate the
confusion when a secondary source
will become available.
6. What is a limitation?
What questions can be
asked when evaluating
the limitation of a
primary source?
 Limitation is trying to
point and what point
does this source cease
to be of value to us as
historians.
The questions can be asked when evaluating the
primary source are:
a. What part of the story can we not tell from
this document?
b. How could we verify the content of the
piece?
c. Does this piece inaccurately reflect anything
about the time period?
d. What does the author leave out and why does
he/she leave it out (if you know)?
e. What is purposely not addressed?
7. Why is there a need
to know the limitation
of a primary source?
 For us to explain the
parts of the story that
the document leaves
out.
 8. Why is “limitation”
considered the hardest
stage in the OPLV
technique?
 It is the hardest part because the
task here is not point out
weaknesses of the source, but
rather to say: at what point does
this source cease to be of value to
us as historians.
You are analyzing and giving
insights about the data.
9. Why is that being
biased does not
limit the value of a
source?
 Because each
source will be at
least a little biased
 If the source has been
translated from the original (e.g.
Hitler’s diary entry was
translated into English by a
historian and you’re using the
historian’s book as a source)
Then the language difference will be an
other source of inaccuracy and a
limitation. If you are going to comment
on the bias of a document, you must go
into detail. Who is it biased towards?
Who is it biased against? What part of
a story does it leave out? What part of
the story is missing because of parts
left out?
 10. What are the
advantages of using
OPVL in historical
document analysis?
 OPVL is a technique for analyzing
historical document. It is used
extensively in the International
Baccalaureate curriculum and
testing materials, and is incredibly
helpful in teaching students to be
critical observers.