Opvl Chart
Document Type
Diary Entry
Origin
Is it a primary source? Who wrote it? Was this person a key individual? When in the course of events was it written?
Purpose
Private reflection? Private reflection with the view to being published later in a memoir? Attempts to justify actions?
Value
Content Eyewitness account Person was part of the decision-making process Could be candid and honest
Limitations
Personal involvement could lead to mistruths, omissions, justifications for actions and undue emphasis placed on certain events. Might be written with a view to later publication and therefore wanting to appear in a positive light. Needs to be cross-referenced with other primary sources. Personal involvement could lead to mistruths, omissions, justifications for actions and undue emphasis placed on certain events. Might be written with a view to later publication and therefore wanting to appear in a positive light. Needs to be cross-referenced with other primary sources. Personal involvement could lead to mistruths, omissions, justifications for actions and undue emphasis placed on certain events. Propaganda? Facts omitted or exaggerated to suit the audience. Needs to be cross-referenced with other primary sources.
Letter
Is it a primary source? Who wrote it? Was this person a key individual? When in the course of events was it written?
Private and candid comments between individuals? Not necessarily intended for public consumption? Attempt to justify actions? Attempt to persuade the recipient to follow a course or action? Public statement of thoughts or of official policies? Propaganda? Facts omitted or exaggerated to suit the audience?
Content Eyewitness account Person was part of the decision-making process Could be candid and honest
Speech
Is it a primary source? Who delivered the speech? Was this person a key individual? When in the course of events did it occur? Where was the speech made? Who was the audience?
Content Statement of official policy Statement of the individual’s personal ideas and thoughts Reaction to various events Statement of intention
OPVL Chart
1
Document Type
Memoir Recollections
Origin
Whose memoir/memories? Was this person a key individual? How long after the period was the memoir published or the memories recounted?
Purpose
Attempt to justify actions? Attempt to remember details of events for later generations? For the general public?
Value
Content Eyewitness account Person was part of the decision-making process Could be candid and honest Could be a source of valuable information that otherwise would be lost Content Statement of official policy Reaction to various events Statement of intention
Limitations
Personal involvement could lead to mistruths, omissions, justifications for actions and undue emphasis placed on certain events. Written for publication and therefore wanting to appear in a positive light. Needs to be cross-referenced with other primary sources.
Official Government Document
Is it a primary source? Which institution published this material? Was this document a significant document at the time?
Public statement of official policies? Propaganda? Facts omitted or exaggerated to suit the audience?
Propaganda? Exaggerations? Only shows one aspect of government policy? Does not show the reasons behind the policy. Does not show how or whether the policy was actually implemented. Propaganda? Exaggeration? Only shows one set of figures Does not show the reasons behind the statistics. Does not show how these statistics were collected.
Statistics
Is it a primary source? Which institution published this material? Was this document a significant document at the time? Or is it/has it been...
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