LEAP - Louisiana Educational Assessment Program Analyzing Primary Source Documents Questions and Answers 1

Question 1

A historian is analyzing a political cartoon from 1910 that shows a large, wealthy man labeled 'Big Business' handing a bag of money to a smaller politician. What is the most likely purpose of this primary source?

Accepted Answer

To persuade viewers that corporate money was corrupting politics.

Answer

Political cartoons are primary sources that use symbolism and exaggeration to express a point of view. This cartoon depicts a negative interaction, suggesting that 'Big Business' is improperly influencing politics through money, aiming to persuade the public of this corrupting influence.

Question 2

A student is researching the experiences of Louisiana soldiers during World War II and finds a collection of letters a soldier sent to his family. When evaluating these letters as a primary source, which question is MOST critical for understanding the context of the documents?

Accepted Answer

What was the soldier's rank and where was he stationed when he wrote the letters?

Answer

Knowing the soldier's rank and location (e.g., fighting on the front lines in Europe versus stationed at a base in the U.S.) is crucial for contextualizing the content of the letters. This information directly impacts the experiences, concerns, and perspectives he would have been writing about.

Question 3

Scenario: You are reading a diary entry from a resident of New Orleans dated August 28, 2005, the day before Hurricane Katrina made landfall. The entry expresses mild concern but an overall belief that the storm will not be as bad as predicted. Which of the following statements represents the most valid use of this document for a historical project?

Accepted Answer

This document offers insight into the public mood and perception of risk just before the storm hit.

Answer

Even though the author's prediction was incorrect, the diary entry is a valuable primary source because it captures a specific individual's perspective and feelings at a particular moment in time. It provides evidence of the public's mindset and underestimation of the storm's severity before the full disaster unfolded.

Question 4

A student is comparing two primary source documents about the 1811 German Coast Uprising in Louisiana. Document A is a report from a plantation owner describing the event as a violent, unprovoked rebellion. Document B is a transcript of a later oral history from a descendant of an enslaved person. To get a more complete understanding of the event, what is the best approach?

Accepted Answer

Analyze both documents, recognizing they come from different perspectives and may both contain valid information and biases.

Answer

This is the process of corroboration. Historical events are complex, and primary sources reflect the varied perspectives of those involved. The plantation owner and the descendant of an enslaved person have vastly different viewpoints. A historian must analyze both, acknowledge the biases of each, and synthesize the information to build a more nuanced and complete interpretation.

Question 5

Which of the following is the best definition of 'sourcing' when analyzing a primary source?

Accepted Answer

Identifying who created the document, when and where it was created, and for what purpose.

Answer

Sourcing is the initial step of historical analysis where one identifies the essential background information of a document: Who wrote it? When? Where? Why? For what audience? Answering these questions provides the context needed to properly interpret the source's content.

(LEAP) Louisiana Educational Assessment Program Practice Test

(LEAP) Louisiana Educational Assessment Program Practice Test

LEAP - Louisiana Educational Assessment Program Analyzing Primary Source Documents Questions and Answers 1