Analyzing+Textual+Documents


 * First Reading**


 * 1) Describe what you see.
 * 2) What do you notice first?
 * 3) Are the words written or typed? Print or script?
 * 4) What does the text say?
 * 5) Describe anything you see on the page besides words, such as images or decorations.
 * 6) How is the text and other information arranged on the page?
 * 7) Describe anything about this text that looks strange or unfamiliar.
 * 8) What other details can you see?


 * Reflection**


 * 1) What was the purpose of this text?
 * 2) Who created it?
 * 3) Who do you think was its audience?
 * 4) Can you tell anything about what was important at the time it was made?
 * 5) What tools and materials were used to create it?
 * 6) What is the larger story or context within which this was printed?
 * 7) What can you learn from examining this?
 * 8) If someone created this today, what would be different?

Of course, these are not all of the questions you can ask, but they're a good place to start. Let yourself wonder. Who, what, when, where, why, and how can be very helpful when coming up with questions.

Questions based on materials found at [|Library of Congress]