Teaching with primary sources in the classroom is an important component in developing critical thinking and analysis skills. As the Guidelines for Primary Source Literacy explain, “Primary sources provide compelling and direct evidence of human activity and require critical analysis due to the creators’ intents and biases; the variety of contexts in which they have been created, preserved, and made accessible; and the gaps, absences, and silences that exist in the materials.” Engagement with primary source materials prepares students to successfully navigate a variety of information sources within many disciplines and courses.
