National Archives and Records Administration
Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum


   Written Document Analysis Worksheet

Type of document (check one)
_____newspaper _____map _____advertisement
_____letter _____telegram _____congressional record
_____patent _____press release _____census report
_____memorandum _____report _____other
Unique physical qualities of the document (check one or more)
_____interesting letterhead _____notation
_____handwritten _____"Received" stamp
_____typed _____other
_____seals
Date of the document________________________________________________

Author of the document______________________________________________
Position (title)______________________________________________________

For what audience was the document written?___________________________
_________________________________________________________________

Document Information
List three things the author said that you think are important.
1. ____________________________________________________________
    ____________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________
    ____________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________
    ____________________________________________________________

Why do you think this document was written? What evidence in the document helps you know why it was written?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

List two things the document tells you about life in the United States or the world at the time it was written.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

Write a question to the author that is left unanswered by the document.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

    Source: Education Staff, National Archives and Records Administration