Lesson 2

Text, Context,
Subtext
OBJECTIVES
1. Identify the text, context, and subtext
of different historical sources.
2. Analyze and evaluate text, context, and
subtext of different historical sources.
3. Develop analytical and critical skills with
exposure to primary sources.
 TEXT
1. is the written part of the story, what
What is happens and what is stated on the page.
Written text, such as books and papers.
text, 2. Oral text, such as speech and theatrical
context, performance
3. Iconic text, such as drawings, paintings,
and and icons
subtext? 4. Audio-visual text, such as TV programs,
movies, and videos
5. Hypertexts, which are texts found on the
Internet
 CONTEXT SUBTEXT
is all the grounding and “reading between the
guiding information that lines.” The “sub” refers
What is the audience needs, to underlying
text, such as subtext happens when
who the characters are, the story is bigger than
context, where they are, what what is on the page.
and time of day it is, etc. Once the reader has
context helps us some stability, some
subtext? interpret and grounding with context,
understand the story you can make them a
participator in the story
through subtext.
TEXT is the easiest one of the three to understand,
because it is what we often focus on the most. The text is
the written part of the story, what happens and what is
stated on the page. It is everything you see that is not
implied.

CONTEXT, we think of things like the date a work was published,

who it was written by, or the climate of the time. Context
in this sense is all the grounding and guiding information that the
audience needs, such as who the characters are, where they are,
what time of day it is, etc. Context can also be any other
additional information the audience needs to interpret and
accurately understand what is happening in the story.
SUBTEXT is any content which is not announced explicitly (by
characters or author), but is implicit, or becomes something
understood by the audience. Subtext has been used
historically to imply controversial subjects without drawing
the attention (or wrath) of censors. Subtext can be defined as
an underlying meaning that is implied but not directly stated.

The subtext of a document or object refers to its

secondary and implied meanings. The subtext embraces
the emotional or intellectual messages embedded in, or
implied by the document or object.
 ASSESSING Criteria on Assessing the Historical Significance of Sources
HISTORICAL Is it important/ relevant to people living
at the time? Is something still relevant to
SIGNIFICANCE our present lives even if it had only a
RELEVANCE
the process used to passing importance?
evaluate what was
significant about
selected events, people, Was the event remarked on by people at
and developments in REMARKABLE the time or since?
the past. Historians
using different sets of Who were/have been affected by the
criteria to help them event? Why was it important to them?
make judgments about How were people's lives affected? Do
the importance in the RESONANCE people like to make analogies with it? It
so called the forgotten is possible to connect with experiences,
concept in history. beliefs or attitudes across time and
place?
 ASSESSING Criteria on Assessing the Historical Significance of Sources
HISTORICAL Was the event/development important
REMEMBERED at some stage within the collective
SIGNIFICANCE memory of a group or groups?
the process used to REVEALING Does it reveal some other aspects of the
evaluate what was past?
significant about RESULTING Does it have consequences for the
selected events, people, IN CHANGE future?
and developments in
the past. Historians For how long have people's lives been
using different sets of DURABILITY affected? A day, a week, a year, or all
their lives?
criteria to help them
make judgments about How many people were affected? Did
the importance in the QUANTITY the event affect many, everyone, or just
so called the forgotten a few? A whole barrio, a town, a
concept in history. province, a country, or the entire race?
 ASSESSING
HISTORICAL
SIGNIFICANCE
the process used to
evaluate what was Criteria on Assessing the Historical Significance of Sources
significant about Was the event superficial or deeply
selected events, people, PROFUNDIT affecting? How deeply people's lives were
and developments in Y affected? How were people's lives
the past. Historians affected?
using different sets of
criteria to help them
make judgments about
the importance in the
so called the forgotten
concept in history.
 THE PURPOSES IN WRITING
AUTHOR’S PURPOSE DEFINITION EXAMPLES
PURPOSE The author wants Advertisements,
The author's purpose is you to believe, do, Campaign
his or her reason for or TO PERSUADE or buy something Speeches,
This type of Persuasive letters,
intent in writing a text, a writing is called opinions, etc.
line, a paragraph, an persuasive writing.
essay, a story, etc. There
are many reasons why
people write: it may be to That author wants Documents,
amuse the reader, to to give you Contracts,
persuade the reader, to information or Agreements, Law,
TO INFORM instructions. This Rules, or other
inform the reader, to
satirize a condition and a type of writing is reference texts,
lot more.
called expository Business letters,
writing. textbooks
 THE PURPOSES IN WRITING
AUTHOR’S PURPOSE DEFINITION EXAMPLES
PURPOSE The author wants History texts, non-
The author's purpose is to relate a story or fiction books,
his or her reason for or recount past biographies,
TO NARRATE
intent in writing a text, a events. This type anecdotes,
OR RECOUNT of writing is called newspapers, etc
line, a paragraph, an
essay, a story, etc. There narrative writing.
are many reasons why
people write: it may be to The author wants Stories, Poems,
amuse the reader, to you to visualize or Drama, Songs, etc
TO DESCRIBE experience what
persuade the reader, to
something or
inform the reader, to someone looks
satirize a condition and a like, sounds like, or
lot more. feels like.
 THE PURPOSES IN WRITING

AUTHOR’S PURPOSE DEFINITION EXAMPLES

The author wants Instructions,
PURPOSE to tell you how to directions, step-
The author's purpose is do something or by-step
his or her reason for or TO EXPLAIN
how something procedures, How-
intent in writing a text, a works. This type of to-recipes,
line, a paragraph, an writing falls under Operations
essay, a story, etc. There expository writing. Manual, etc
are many reasons why The author wants Novels, Stories,
people write: it may be to to amuse you or Poems, Drama,
amuse the reader, to TO for you to enjoy Songs, etc
persuade the reader, to the writing itself.
ENTERTAIN This type of
inform the reader, to writing falls under
satirize a condition and a creative writing
lot more.