Source Types: Worksheets

Map Analysis
Level 1
Type of Map
Raised Relief Map

Birds Eye Map

Topographic Map

Artifact Map

Political Map

Satellite Photograph/Mosaic

Contour Map

Weather Map

Military Map

Other

Date of the Map

Level 2
Map Information
List three things you can

1.

see on the map:

2.
3.

List three things in the map

1.

that you think are

2.

important:

3.

What evidence suggests

why this map was drawn?
Does the information in the
map support or contradict
information that you have
read about this society?
Explain.

Cartoon Analysis

Level 1
Visuals

Words

1. List any objects or people you see in 1. Identify the cartoon caption and/or title.
the cartoon

2. Locate three words/phrases used by the

cartoonist to identify objects or people
within the cartoon.

3. Record any important dates or numbers

that appear in the cartoon.

Level 2
Visuals
2. List any objects or people you see in the

Words
4.

cartoon.

that appear to be most significant?

5. List
3. What do you think each symbol means?

Words or phrases in the cartoon

adjectives

that

describe

emotions portrayed in the cartoon.

the

Level 3
A. Describe the action taking place in the cartoon.

B. Explain how the words in the cartoon clarify the symbols?

C. Explain the message of the cartoon.

D. What interest groups would agree/disagree with the cartoons message? Why?

Photo Analysis
Step 1: Observation
A. Study the photograph for two minutes. Form an overall impression of the
photograph and then examine individual items. Next, divide the photo in quadrants
and study each section to see what new details become visible.

Use the chart to list people, objects, and activities in the photograph.
People

Objects

Activities

Step 2: Inference
Based on what you have observed previously (in Step 1 Observation), list three things
you might infer from this photograph.

Step 3: Questions
A. What questions does this photograph raise in your mind?

B.

Where could you find answers to them?

Poster Analysis

Are any colours used in the poster? If so, what are they?

What symbols, if any, are used in the poster?

If a symbol is used, is it
a. Clear (i.e. easy to interpret)?
b. Memorable?
c. Dramatic?
Are the messages in the poster primarily visual, verbal, or both?

Who do you think is the intended audience for the poster?

What do you think the government hope the audience will consequently/subsequently do?

The most effective posters use symbols that are simple and direct. Is this an effective
poster?

Written Document Analysis

Level 1
Type of Document:
Newspaper

Map

Advertisement

Letter

Telegram

Political report/record

Patent

Press Release

Census

Memorandum

Report

Other

Unique Physical Characteristics of the Document:

Interesting letterhead

Notations

Handwritten

Received stamp

Typed

Other

Seals
Date(s) of the Document:

Author/Creator of the Document:

Position (Title):

Level 2
Document Information:
A. List three things the author said that you think are important:

B. Why do you think the document was written?

C. What evidence in the document helps you know why it was written? Quote from the
document.

D. List two things the document tells you about what life was like at the time it was
written.

E. Write a question to the author that is left unanswered by the document:

Object Analysis

Level 1
What are your impressions of the object?

Do you have any notion as to what the object might have been used for?

Level 2
What is the object made of?

What is the texture and colour of the object?

Is the object handmade or by machine?

How is the object used? Does it have a practical purpose or was it used for pleasure?

Level 3
What type of person might have used this object?

What does the object tell us about the user?

Is the object still in use today?

What symbolic features and meanings are evident in the design of the object?

What questions do you have about the object that you cant answer from just
looking at it?

Art Analysis

Level 1
First Impression of the Picture/Art Work:

Subject/Content of the Art Work:

Level 2
Mood or Feeling of the Art Work:

Context (Events/Cultural/Political Developments at the Time the Art was Created):

Statement of What the Picture is Trying to Show: