HIPPO

Primary and Secondary Source Analysis

HIPPO Answer Evidence

H = Historical Context
•• When was the source created?
•• Where was the source created?
•• What events might have affected the author’s
viewpoint?
•• What events might have affected the message?
•• Does this affect the reliability of the source?
Why?

I = Intended Audience
•• Whom was the source created for?
•• Was it created for a single person or a group?
•• Does the audience affect the content of the
source? How?
•• Does the audience affect the reliability of the
source? Why?

P = Purpose
•• Why was the source created?
•• Why was it created at this particular time?
•• Does its purpose affect its reliability or
usefulness? How?
•• Why has it survived to the present?
•• Are there any clues about the author from the
source? What are they?

P = Point of View
•• What was the author’s point of view?
•• Does the author’s point of view undercut or
support the purpose of the source? How?
Why?
•• Does the author’s position in society affect the
content of the source? Why?
•• Is it possible to tell what other beliefs the
author might have held? How?

O = Outside Information
•• Does the source support, contradict, or qualify
any other sources? How do you know?
•• What other sources might help you understand
the author’s point of view?
•• What other sources might offer alternatives to
the author’s opinion?
•• What does this source NOT tell you?
•• What other sources might fill in the gaps?
•• What outside information do you know that
relates to the source?

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