HAPPY Chinese Sources

To analyze a primary source, consider:

1. Historical Context

   • What was happening at the time the source was created?

   • What major events or social trends influenced the creator?

   • How might the context have shaped the content and perspective of the source?

2. Intended Audience

   • Who was the source created for?

   • How might the intended audience have influenced the creator's choices in terms of language, tone, and content?

   • Is there evidence within the source that reveals the target audience?

3. Purpose

   • Why was the source created?

   • What goal did the creator hope to achieve?

   • Was it meant to inform, persuade, entertain, or something else?

   • How does the purpose affect the reliability and usefulness of the source?

4. Point of View

   • Who created the source, and what was their background or position?

   • What biases or assumptions might they have held?

   • How does their perspective shape the information presented?

   • Is the source objective, or does it reflect a particular viewpoint or agenda?