Will the New Year Solve the Riddle of Mars

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Solving the Riddle of Mars?

Click the newspaper image above to zoom into the page. What is the riddle of Mars? Does the article answer the headline question? What evidence does the article give that there is life on Mars? What evidence does the article provide that Professor Lowell believes these Martian extraterrestrials are superior to mankind as the subhead claims?…

Twentieth century transportation

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Twentieth-century Transportation

List the different types of transportation that you see. How many instances of each type can you spot in the print? How have these types of transportation changed in the 21st century? What are some new types of transportation? What types of transportation can you imagine there might be in the 22nd century? What other observations, reflections or…

Cornell-Liberty Safety Car

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Cornell-Liberty Safety Car

Look closely at the drawing and use a magnifying glass to decipher the notes. What did you learn? What safety features are recommended? Use the two articles linked to below to create a Brief History of Motor Vehicle Safety in the United States; you may choose to write an article or develop a timeline, infographic,…

The constitutional amendment!

Guided Primary Source Analysis: The Constitutional Amendment

What is the purpose of this poster? What emotions does this poster tap into? Use specific evidence from the source to support your responses. Who is the audience for this primary source? How do you know? What more do you learn from the source record? Do  you think this poster was effective with its target…

Signing the declaration of their independence

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Signing the Declaration of Their Independence

Compare and contrast the illustration above with this well-known print. What similarities do you notice? What differences do you see? This illustration is actually a political cartoon. What do you think the purpose of the creator might have been? Now read the source record as well as the source record for the comparison print. Do you think…

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Washington D.C. Invites You to the Opening of Congress

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Washington D.C. Invites You to the Opening of Congress

According to this ad, how could you get your free trip to Washington D.C.? How would you get to the U.S. capital from your home town today? How far is it? How much would it cost? What can you still see now that you could see then? What places would be on your list of…

Automatic Asteroid Finder (Ein Asteroiden Selbstendecker)

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Automatic Asteroid Finder

Use details from the illustration to describe what is happening in this image. Do you think there was an automatic asteroid finder in 1873? Do scientists use automatic asteroid finders today? How do you know or how would you find out? Read the article by Ruth S. Freitag linked to below. What did you learn? In what…

A series of statistical charts illustrating the condition of the descendants of former African slaves now in residence in the United States of America

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Condition of the Descendants of Former African Slaves

Why is the information provided in both English and French? The pie graph gives statistics for which group of people? Use the information provided in this text as well as the bibliographic record to determine one or more purposes of this text. What other observations, reflections or questions does this source inspire? Let us know!…

Concerning the American girl

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Concerning the American Girl

List the different career paths illustrated in this political cartoon. Did any surprise you? Why or why not? Political cartoons often contain irony. What example of irony do you find in this political cartoon? (If you need help, review the post Analyzing Primary Sources: Reading Cartoons.) What do you think were the “old ideals” of womanhood in 1904?…

The Ward County independent., October 28, 1920, Image 13

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Biggest Business in the World

This campaign ad lists 10 pledges Senator Warren G. Harding promised to uphold. Which 3 do you think are most important for a politician to keep? Explain the reasoning for your choices. What pledges would you make if you were running for political office? Explain the reasoning for your choices. This campaign ad says the United…