NOTE: There is no ONE way to analyze historical sources. The process below is offering a basic skeleton for constructing meaning of complex documents and historical issues.

In addition, it is strongly recommended that you read this blog post.

1. Complete a "Critical Reading" of the source.
2. The first step in analyzing sources, specifically primary, is to complete the basic information contained in the 6 C's of Primary Sources.
3. Ask yourself: "what is the text doing?" Is it:
1. A Rhetorical Artifact
1. Pathos- is appeal based on emotion. Advertisements tend to be pathos-driven. 
   
2. Ethos- is appeal based on the character of the speaker. An ethos-driven document relies on the reputation of the author.
   
3. Logos- is appeal based on logic or reason. Documents distributed by companies or corporations are logos-driven. Scholarly documents are also often logos-driven.  
2. A social instrument or
3. a people or social exchange