The Library of Congress

Evaluating Primary Sources

Migrant Mother

What Do You See?

Using the Scan - Examine - Analyze process, evaluate the two primary sources below, then compare them. Go to each section in turn for guides to help you evaluate each source.

Primary Source One | Primary Source Two

Scan

the image, performing a physical examination: its condition, any artwork, any extraneous markings or other clues to the photograph's context or history.

Examine for information about the subject, audience, setting, and purpose of this photograph. Is this photograph a posed or a candid shot? Could this photograph be used as an legal document?

Analyze

the photograph, attempting to integrate factual observations, prior knowledge, and intuition to reconstruct the story behind this image.

Compare

the two images. Use all the information you have learned from each image to place them in context with each other.

Let's get started with Scanning an Image

Evaluating Primary Sources: Getting Started | See | Hear | Read | Together | Resources


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Last updated 09/26/2002