Looking at the Details of Visual Documents: 

What details in the source help me understand my topic? 

I have an overview of what my document says about the Boston Massacre.  Now, I want to take a closer look at the poster to see what it reveals about the author's opinion of the event. 

I focus on sections of the poster that are circled to collect my evidence.  Next, I'll evaluate the evidence I have collected. Then I will think about how this information addresses my essential question

Detail of Boston Massacre poster with highlighted areas
Description | Source
Detail of Boston Massacre poster
Detail of Boston Massacre poster. A yellow oval on the left of the poster is around the figure of a man, wearing a blue jacket, laying on the ground, his red blood pouring onto the street from his body. A yellow circle on the right is around four British soldiers and their commanding officer. The soldiers are in a row and are shooting their long guns toward the crowd on the left. The commanding officer holds a long sword in his raised arm, and stands behind the British troops on the far right of the poster.Digital Source: Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division viewed on 9/15/09; http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?pp/app:@FIELD%28NUMBER%283b51693%29%29

Click here for an online version of the poster.  You can use it to take a closer look.

 

What do you think? 

 

What do you notice in the poster?  How are line, color and position used to convey this poster's message? As you consider the evidence from this poster, think about these questions:  what do these details tell you about the Boston Massacre?  What do they tell you about what Paul Revere wanted you to think?  

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Summary:
Historical inquiry continues with:  
  • Collecting evidence from sources
  • Evaluating or interpreting the evidence
  • Putting the evidence to work to answer your essential question 

     

 

Terry's Tips

Build student recognition skills by highlighting critical features

Here, the author supports students in gathering evidence from the document by highlighting critical features.  Highlighting critical features helps students to focus on key information and build understanding.    

Using visual documents can be very engaging for students as well as teachers.  For practice and models in using visual documents, see Picturing Modern America . This site offers student activities and teacher guides for using visual documents in historical inquiry.