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Content and Contextual Analysis of Selected Primary Sources What This Module Is About?

This module discusses the selected primary sources of different historical periods. This aims to evaluate the documents presented in terms of their content and historical value and also focuses on the context of the producti of each document. Having the knowledge and understanding of historical sources, their repositories and the types of criticism that were discussed in the previous module will help you in analyzing the content and context of each document. The different sources of this docume

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Rondina, Elvie Rose P.
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537 views

Content and Contextual Analysis of Selected Primary Sources What This Module Is About?

This module discusses the selected primary sources of different historical periods. This aims to evaluate the documents presented in terms of their content and historical value and also focuses on the context of the producti of each document. Having the knowledge and understanding of historical sources, their repositories and the types of criticism that were discussed in the previous module will help you in analyzing the content and context of each document. The different sources of this docume

Uploaded by

Rondina, Elvie Rose P.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Module 2

Content and Contextual Analysis of Selected Primary Sources

What this module is about?


This module discusses the selected primary sources of different historical periods. This aims to
evaluate the documents presented in terms of their content and historical value and also focuses on the
context of production of each document. Having the knowledge and understanding about historical sources,
its repositories and the types of criticism that was discussed in the previous module will help you in
analyzing the content and context of each document. The different sources of these documents require
different kinds of analysis and has different degree of importance.

Objectives:
After reading the module you are expected to:

a. Recognize the multiplicity of interpretation of content and context of selected primary sources;
b. Identify historical importance of selected texts;
c. Examine arguments and point of view of the author of selected primary sources.
How are you going to learn?
1. Read carefully the module objectives and content.
2. After a thorough understanding of the information in the module, answer the quiz at the end.
Answer to the quiz should be submitted to the faculty concerned. (The quiz mentioned here will be
given after the end of our virtual discussion.)

Module: Content and Contextual Analysis of Selected Primary Sources


Lesson 1: Content Analysis
Lesson 2: Context Analysis

Lesson 3: Characteristics in looking for primary sources

Lesson 4: Suggestions in using primary sources

Introduction:

In order for you to understand the content and context of every primary sources it is important to
look at the background of the author, the important of the text, it’s significance and how this document
relates to the present condition of our society. In studying primary sources, it is not enough to read the text.
One must also understand how to read critically, analyzing each information and not just relying on what
the text can give. He who is critical and cautious will do his or her research on the primary sources, compare
other works and look at the gaps of the document. Only then a person can be able to get the essence of each
primary source if he or she know how to look at it with a keen eye just like a historian.

In this module we are going to focus primarily in the analysis of selected primary sources using content and
contextual analysis.
Content analysis- is a research method in studying a particular document and other artifacts this can be in
other forms too like in picture or audio or video. This type of analysis is used to analyzed the social
phenomena in the search for answers. This also involves the systematic evaluation of primary sources that
can be in different forms which could develop their own argument and understanding of the evidences
presented to them.

Goals of content analysis

Content analysis is mainly used in order to better understand the content of a particular text. It is used in
order to answer to the ambiguity of what the readers are actually reading or analyzing. Since analysis of a
single word can give different meaning depending on the use of it and the surrounding text.

There are different kinds of text according to Galicia and Palencia 2019.

1. Written texts –this can be books and other papers


2. Oral text – such as speech and performances
3. Iconic text –such as drawings and paintings
4. Hypertext- those text that can be found on the internet

Contextual analysis- unlike the content analysis, context analysis focuses on the time, place and situation
when the primary source was actually written. This also includes the background of the author, the authority,
its relevance and meaning to people in the society.

It may sound a little bit complicated but it only means that you are situating the text in the time it was
written, assessing the influence of the author and the intended reader for the text.

In analyzing the primary sources, it is better to start with the content and the context first. In doing so, you
have to identify first the author, its audience and the historical context of the source. Since the author has
its own biases, it is important to identify first his own perspective or point of view before analyzing the
primary source. There are four steps you can do in the process of analyzing the text or document.

Four steps analysis process by Galicia and Palencia, (2019).


1. Observe: what do you observe in the people, activities, words and numbers in the text or document?
2. Explain: what is the meaning of these words, objects and symbols?
3. Infer: What is the feeling and attitude do you think the author is trying to convey through the
source? What can you infer about the historical event?
4. Wonder: What is the additional information would you like to know in order to have a deeper
understanding of the ideas presented in the source?
For the last step, summarize the main ide of the source considering the author main message and the specific
details. It is important to note that primary sources need a deeper understanding since the true meaning of
the it might be misinterpreted if not place in a proper historical context.
Characteristics to look for when selecting primary sources to be able to place in historical context.
1. Bibliographic information- how detailed is the items in the bibliographic record?
2. Creator name and publishing date- are the creator ‘name and creation date available in the primary
source
3. Time and topic- what is the topic under study? It the source considered as a primary source or a
secondary source?
4. Contextual clues- what are the clues presented in the primary source that will identify the time and
place of the primary sources? can you identify the kind of technology and type of clothing in a
certain period?
Galicia and Palencia (2019) in their book includes the suggestion for using primary sources in the process
of content and context analysis.
1. Use primary sources to corroborate with secondary sources.
2. Brainstorm the dialogue of historical figures based on the primary sources.
3. Create the main idea/ focuses mainly on the central topic.
4. Let all the perspective of different people be heard/ let them speak for themselves.
5. Consider different formats of primary sources.

Identification of the historical importance of the text.


First it is important to know and understand the source of the primary source. Raise questions about it keep
in mind that in studying primary sources you have to used your historical imagination. This process involves
your willingness to ask questions regarding the material and seeks for answers that are not literally stated
in the text.
According to Galicia and Palencia (2019) situate yourself in the position of a historian, always remember
the acronym PAPER.
P- purpose and motives of the author
A-argument and strategy they used
P- presuppositions and values in the text and in your own
E- evaluating the truth or epistemology
R- relate it to other text or sources, and compare and contrast the information presented
Purpose
o Who is the author and what is her or his place in society?
o What could or might it be, based on the text and why?
o Why do you think he or she wrote it?
Argument
o Do you think the author is credible and reliable?
o What is the intended audience of the author?
o How does that text make its case?
Presuppositions
o How do the ideas and values in the source differ from the ideas and values of our age?
o How might the difference between our values and values of the author influence the way you
understand the text?
Epistemology
o What kinds of information does this text tell you without knowing its’s telling you?
o How might this support the arguments found in the secondary sources?
Relate
o Compare two selected primary sources and ask the ff. questions?
o What major differences appear to them?
o Which do you find more reliable and credible?

Issues about validity and reliability of the text.


Most of the time many historians faced a lot of challenges regarding the authenticity of the document so it
is also important to test the validity of this sources especially if you are dealing with primary sources. Even
though it is considered as one, you need to look at it with a keen eye. Since most of the time primary sources
can give a different understanding about a certain topic and often times misinterpreted, Having the issue or
soundness / correctness of the text needs the test of reliability. In this case the primary sources are being
compare to other materials that talks about the same topic. In this case you are able to check whether all the
information in one source will be align to the other. This process reveals all the information that is confusing
and are not align with other text. In doing so it is better to compare it with two or more sources to be sure
about the information being studied. Having primary sources at hand does not guarantee that all the
information in the text is objective, since even historians have their own biases and may influence their own
writing of the past.

Text
What is visible/readable?
What information is provided by the source?

Context
What was going on during the time period? What background information do you have that
helps explain the information found in the source?

Subtext
What is between the lines?
Who created the sources? What do we know about the person?
For whom was the source created?
Why was this source produce?
When it was produced?

Suggested Readings:

a. First Voyage Around the World by Antonio Pigafetta


b. Kartilya ng Katipunan by Emilio Jacinto
c. Corazon Aquino’s Speech Before the U.S. Congress
d. The Act of the Declaration of Philippine Independence by Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista
translated by Sulpicio Guevarra

Reference:
Candelaria & Alporha. (2018). Readings in Philippine History. Rex Publishing, Inc.

Galicia & Palencia (2019). Readings in Philippine History. Second Edition. Azes Publishing Corporation.
Ang, J., G. (2019). Reading in Philippine History. A Text Manual for the 21st Century Filipino Students
Minshapers Co., Inc.
Asuncion et al. (2019). Readings in Philippine History. C & E Publishing, Inc.

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