Name: __________________________________

Written Document Analysis Worksheet

1. TYPE OF DOCUMENT (Check one):

• Newspaper
• Advertisement
• Letter
• Telegram
• Congressional Record
• Patent
• Press Release
• Census Report
• Memorandum
• Report
• Other

2. UNIQUE PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DOCUMENT (Check one or more):

• Interesting Letterhead
• Notations (notes made on it)
• Handwritten
• Other
• Typed
• Seals

3. DATE(S) OF DOCUMENT:

4. AUTHOR (OR CREATOR) OF THE DOCUMENT (if known):

POSITION (TITLE):

5. FOR WHAT AUDIENCE WAS THE DOCUMENT WRITTEN?

6. DOCUMENT INFORMATION (There are many possible ways to answer A-E.)

A. List three things the author said that you think are important:

B. Why do you think this document was written? What is its purpose?

C. What evidence in the document helps you know why it was written? Cite sentences or passages from the document:

D. List two pieces of evidence the document tells you about life in the colonies at the time it was written.

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

Designed and developed by the Education Staff, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, DC 20408