Reading Class: Jamestown Starving Time

Due Date: Friday, November 18th

You are learning to think like a historical detective. Pick one article about Jamestown's Starving Time to analyze. Then answer at least 3 questions from the list below using information from the articles and adding details to explain your thougths. I will give you a worksheet on Monday that includes the list of questions below and give you class time to work on it. That way, you will have your ideas ready to post when you get to the computer!

Questions for Analyzing Sources

The following questions may help you judge the quality of a source:

1. Is the document a primary or secondary source? How do you know?

2. Who created the source and why? Was it created in a spur-of-the-moment act, a routine transaction, or a thoughtful, deliberate process?

3. Did the recorder have firsthand knowledge of the event? Or, did the recorder write what others saw and heard? Or, did the writer interpret other sources to create their document?

4. Was the recorder a neutral party? Or did the creator have opinions or personal interests that might have influenced what was recorded?

5. Did the recorder produce the source for his own personal use, for more than one person, or for a much larger audience?

6. Is the source something that was meant to be private (like a personal diary) or made for the public?

7. Did the recorder want to persuade or inform others? (Check the words used in the document, this often helps you distinguish between persuasive or informational text) Did the recorder have reasons to be honest or dishonest?

8. Was the information recorded during the event, immediately after the event, or after some lapse of time? How long a lapse of time?

Remember, graded posts must be written during the school day. Any additional posts count towards extra credit!