Understanding OPVL - OPVL Origins, Purpose, Values, Limitations

In MYP 1 We will focus only on Origins and Purpose (O & P)

Origin:

In order to analyze a source, you must first know what it is. Sometimes not all of these
questions can be answered. The more you do know about where a document is coming
from, the easier it is to ascertain purpose, value and limitation. The definition of primary and
secondary source materials can be problematic. There is constant debate among academic
circles on how to definitively categorize certain documents and there is no clear rule of what
makes a document a primary or a secondary source.

Primary Sources – letter, journal, interview, speeches, photos, paintings, etc. Primary
sources are created by someone who is the “first person”; these documents can also be
called “original source documents. The author or creator is presenting original materials as a
result of discovery or to share new information or opinions.

Primary documents have not been filtered through interpretation or evaluation by others. In
order to get a complete picture of an event or era, it is necessary to consult multiple--and
often contradictory--sources.

Secondary Sources – These are materials written after the event, using information from
other sources. They often include the writer’s opinions or explanations about what
happened.

Books commenting on a historical incident in history are secondary sources. Political

cartoons can be tricky because they can be considered either primary or secondary.

Other questions must be answered beyond whether the source is primary or secondary and
will give you much more information about the document that will help you answer questions
in the other categories.

●​ Who created it?

●​ Who is the author?
●​ When was it created?
●​ When was it published?
●​ Where was it published?
●​ Who is publishing it?
●​ Is there anything we know about the author that is pertinent to our evaluation?

Why it matters: Knowing the origin helps us understand how close the source is to
the event or person.

Purpose:

This is the point where you start the real evaluation of the piece and try to figure out the
purpose for its creation. You must be able to think as the author of the document. At this
point you are still only focusing on the single piece of work you are evaluating.

●​ Why does this document exist?

●​ Why did the author create this piece of work? What is the intent?
 ●​ Why did the author choose this particular format?
●​ Who is the intended audience? Who was the author thinking would receive this?
●​ What does the document “say”?
●​ Can it tell you more than is on the surface?

Avoid “I think the document means this...” Obviously, if you are making a statement it is
coming from your thinking. Practice saying “The document means this...because it is
supported by x evidence.”

Common purposes:​
• To inform – A newspaper report about a flood.​
• To persuade – A poster asking people to join the army.​
• To entertain – A movie about a king’s life.​
• To express – A poem about missing home.​
​
Why it matters: Understanding the purpose helps us know what the source is trying to
say and how much we can trust it.

Examples of Primary Sources and their evaluation using Origin and Purpose
1.​ Personal Diary
●​ Example: The diary of Anne Frank, written during World War II by Anne Frank
herself.
●​ Origin: Written by Anne Frank, a Jewish teenager, from 1942 to 1944 while
hiding from the Nazis in Amsterdam.
●​ Purpose: To record her personal thoughts, experiences, and reflections during
a time of war and persecution.
2.​ Official Government Document
●​ Example: The Treaty of Versailles (1919).
●​ Origin: Created by representatives of the Allied and Central Powers at the
end of World War I.
●​ Purpose: To formally end the state of war between Germany and the Allied
Powers and to outline terms for peace and reparations.

Examples of Secondary Sources and their evaluation using Origin and Purpose
3.​ Textbook
●​ Example: A history textbook about Ancient Egypt for middle school students.
●​ Origin: Written by historians and educators, published in recent years for
educational use.
●​ Purpose: To summarize, explain, and analyze primary sources and
archaeological findings to teach students about Ancient Egypt.
4.​ Biography Book
●​ Example: "Nelson Mandela: A Biography" by Martin Meredith.
●​ Origin: Written by Martin Meredith, a historian, published in 1997 after
Mandela’s presidency.
●​ Purpose: To interpret and analyze the life and impact of Nelson Mandela
using various primary sources like speeches, interviews, and archives.

Note on Evaluation:​
When using any historical source, it is essential to evaluate:
 ●​ Origin: Who created the source, when, and in which context? This helps ensure
authenticity and understand perspective or potential bias.
●​ Purpose: Why was it created? Was it for personal reflection, public record,
propaganda, education, or analysis? This affects how trustworthy or partial the
information might be.

Summary Table

Term Ask Yourself... What to Look For

Origin Who made it? Author name,

When and where? date, place, type
Primary or of source
secondary?

Purpose Why did they Message, tone,

make it? For audience, goal of
whom? the source

Reference: https://coulombesclass.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/a-guide-to-opvls.pdf accessed online on 28th

July 2025