OPVL/Primary Source Rubric (14 points maximum)

Primary Sources are those statements (written and oral), documents, photographs and video, or similar material that are produced as original
information. Students will be tasked with ascertaining the Origin, Purpose, Value, and Limitation for each source they encounter. Each week,
students will choose one primary source at the end of the assigned reading section. After carefully considering the document, students should
prepare a one, but no more than two, paragraph analysis of the document. This analysis should be uploaded to Turnitin.com AND included
into the students‘ portfolio (this process should take a whopping 1 minute to complete). As will any assignment, each OPVL analysis should be an
original composition. Students should refer to the “Academic Integrity” section course syllabus for further guidance on this issue.

Students should consider the following questions when drafting their responses:
1. Origin: Where did the document originate? Date? Locale? In what context?
2. Purpose: What do you think the author was trying to convey in this document? What principles or statements of interest are offered?
3. Value: How valuable is this source? In comparison to other sources? Is the source a primary or a secondary source?
4. Limitation: At what point does this source cease to be of value for you, the analyst? What part of the historical narrative is not covered in
this document? How can this document be verified?

Category 4 Exemplary 3 Adequate 2 Minimal 1 Attempted

Origin (either you got it right……. ……………..or you didn’t)

Who What When Where 2 points 1 point

Demonstrates strong Demonstrates some Demonstrates some Demonstrates little or no

Purpose understanding of author understanding of author understanding of author understanding of author
Why and/or time period and and/or time period and and/or time period or and/or time period and/or
purpose for various types of purpose for various types of purpose for various types of purpose for various types of
primary sources primary sources primary sources primary sources

Offers a valid response with
Value two or more accurate and
for a historian studying… relevant values of the
document
Offers a valid response with
two or more insights that
are somewhat accurate or
relevant to the value of the
document
Offers a response with one Response is lacking or
or more insights that may completely inaccurate and/
be inaccurate or irrelevant to or irrelevant to the value of
the value of the document the document

Offers a valid response with
Limitation two or more accurate and
for a historian studying… relevant limitations of the
document
Offers a valid response with
two or more insights that
are somewhat accurate or
relevant to the limitations of
the document
Offers a response with one Response is lacking or
or more insights that may completely inaccurate and/
be inaccurate or irrelevant to or irrelevant to the
the limitations of the limitations of the document
document