Description
Your primary source analysis will be primarily evaluated on how well you analyze its historical significance — the “so what?”
Some examples of potential questions and/or directions that you can pursue for this are:
- What can the source tell us about the historical setting in which it was produced? Historical context?
- What is not being said or shown in the source? What might the significance of this “gap” be?
What can this source tell us about a particular aspect(s) of Chinese history?
- How might it relate to weekly themes, readings, and/or lecture material?
How might it help us better understand Chinese history?
What might its methodological significance be?
- What might some of its limitations be in terms of historical analysis? Or rather, what ought to be considered when analyzing this source?
- These are just suggestions. You obviously do not need to include everything. If you can think of another direction that is critically evaluative/analytical, then by all means, please pursue it.
- The Journey to the West or A Dream in Red Mansions