Origin, Purpose, Value and Limitation (OPVL) is
a technique for analyzing historical documents
. It is used extensively in the International Baccalaureate curriculum and testing materials, and is incredibly helpful in teaching students to be critical observers. It is also known as Document Based Questions (DBQ).
What does Opcvl stand for?
As you read documents in Individuals and Society you should consider the Origins, Purpose, Content, Value and Limits of a document. To complete the
Origins, Purpose, Content, Values, Limits
(OPCVL) exercise students should be able to answer the following: Origins: •
How do you write an OPVL analysis?
- Origin.
- Step 1: Find out if your source is a primary or secondary source. …
- Step 2: Question the reliability. …
- Purpose.
- Step 1: Ask some real hard hitting questions! …
- Value.
- Step 1: Do they answer your focus questions and topic question? …
- Step 2: Ask yourself these questions.
What is Opcvl origin?
Putting on your historian hat, you must determine:
Based on who
.
wrote it
(origin), when/where it came from, why it was created (purpose) and what the source says.
What is Opcvl value?
Content – Content is where you have to look at the source and see what information it provides to the historian. Value –
Given who the author is, the date of publication
, and its publisher explain why it is so useful to your research.
What makes a source valuable?
The measure of a source’s usefulness is based upon the question being asked of it. If a
source provides any information about the specific topic you’re investigating
, it is considered to be a useful source.
How do I write good Opcvl?
Make sure to use the words “origin,” “
purpose
,” “content,” as well as “value/valuable/valued” and “limitation/limiting/limited/limit” explicitly. Do not assume that examiner will know exactly what you mean. Always speak from the perspective of a historian or history student.
What is the purpose of a source?
| Type of Source Common Purposes | Newspaper To inform or persuade the audience about an event | Photograph To record the details of an event, person or location | Speech To persuade the audience to agree with the speaker | Textbook To inform and educate its audience regarding a topic |
|---|
What are limitations in OPVL?
“With reference to its origin and purpose, one limitation of the source is that it represents the views and demands of the Third Estate only. Another limitation is that
the National Assembly was not recognized by all in France as the legitimately elected representative body of the people
.”
What is a limitation of a purpose?
A principle
that data collected for one specified purpose should not be used for a new, incompatible purpose
.
What is origin in OPVL?
Origin, Purpose, Value and Limitation (OPVL) is
a technique for analyzing historical documents
. It is used extensively in the International Baccalaureate curriculum and testing materials, and is incredibly helpful in teaching students to be critical observers. It is also known as Document Based Questions (DBQ).
What is the origin of a source?
The origin of the source
asks when the source was produced and who by
, and the purpose of the source asks why it was produced, and whether it gives a particular message.By including your understanding of NOP in your answers, you demonstrate historical skills which are key to a really well written answer.
Why is it important to know the origin of a source?
Learning about a source
can reveal a great deal and can provide you with a wealth of information on the data you find on your ancestors
. It can also help you understand why you might not find someone or help you find the resource in the first place.
What is the value of the purpose?
Purpose provides you with
a sense of meaning and guides your life and career decisions
. It helps you shape your goals, and it provides you with a sense of direction.
What limits the value of a source?
For example, if a source is written by
a biased observer
it might be limited because it presents only one side of a story. If it is written by someone who is not an expert in that field (perhaps by a journalist rather than by a historian) it might not be as professionally researched as it should be.
What are secondary sources?
Secondary sources were created by someone who did not experience first-hand or participate in the events or conditions you’re researching. For a historical research project, secondary sources are generally
scholarly books and articles
. A secondary source interprets and analyzes primary sources.
