Written Document Analysis Worksheet

1. IDENTIFYING “NAME” OF THE DOCUMENT:

2. TYPE OF DOCUMENT (Check one):

___ Newspaper                                   ___ Letter                                 ___ Patent

___ Memorandum                                ___ Map                                  ___ Telegram

___ Press release                                  ___ Report                               ___ Other

3. UNIQUE PHYSICAL QUALITIES OF THE DOCUMENT (Check one or more, describe details):

___ Interesting letterhead                        ___ Handwritten                     ___ Typed

___ Seals                                                ___ Notations                        ___ "RECEIVED" stamp

___ Other

4. DATE(S) OF DOCUMENT:

5. AUTHOR (OR CREATOR) OF THE DOCUMENT:

POSITION (TITLE):

6. DOCUMENT INFORMATION (Quote the document as part of your answer. Continued on the back.)

A. List up to THREE sentences from the document that may offer insight into Lincoln’s position on
slavery or abolition (how do these statements help you understand Lincoln’s view on slavery?):

B. List up to THREE statements from the document that make it harder to understand Lincoln’s position
on slavery or abolition (do you find the statements inconsistent, vague, confusing? Why?):

7. DOCUMENT QUESTIONS (Use the back to complete this section.)

Are there names or other references that you might need to recognize to fully understand this document? List up to THREE occurrences that could benefit from further research.

Designed and developed by the Education Staff, National Archives and Records Administration,
adapted by David Hollander, Kennedy Junior High School, Naperville School District 203