Use the following acronym to guide your students in analyzing primary source documents. 

"APPARTS"

Author        

• Who created the source?
• What do you know about the author?
• What is the author's point of view?

Place and Time

• Where and when was the source produced?
• How might this affect the meaning of the source?

Prior Knowledge

• Beyond information about the author and the context of its creation, what do you know that would help you further understand the primary source?   For example:  Do you recognize any symbols and recall what they represent? 

Audience

• For whom was the source created?
• How might this affect the reliability of the source?

Reason

• Why was this source produced at the time it was produced?

The Main Idea

• What point is the source trying to convey?

Significance

• Why is this source important?  What inferences can you draw from this document?  Ask yourself, "So what?" in relation to the question asked.

AP PARTS:  From the Colleges Board "Vertical Teams Guide,"  2007.