AAE - Point of View (Lesson)

Point of View.

POV . . . quite possibly the 3 most dreaded letters in AP European - often out ranking DBQ in sheer terror value. POV, or Point of View, are statements that demonstrate a higher analysis of the document. It allows you to demonstrate that certain authors or documents may have certain biases or meanings. . . that their responses are a product of their culture, job, region, and much more. You are expected to incorporate one for each document you discuss.

Worried? Don't be. It really isn't as difficult or confusing as it might seem, you just have to figure out what the basic format is and then go from there.

Here are the 3 basic steps in creating POV - You are looking at a doc in terms of:

  1. Who said it
  2. What was said
  3. and most importantly, WHY they might have said it.

Why is the why piece so important

It is what makes POV. Without it, you simply have attribution. The Why component explains motives behind the statement . . . "it is natural he felt this way because . . .", "one would expect a father to speak highly of his son because . . .", ". . . most certainly his role as the Defense Minister influenced his views and caused him to look at the situation with disdain."

 

When determining POV it is important to note that different documents serve different purposes and people often have influences that impact their writings or recollections. When evaluating the bias of a document ask yourself these questions:

  • What is the tone of the document? (is it sarcasm? a speech to promote nationalism? is the author angry? melancholy?)
  • What is the purpose of the document? (is it a private letter? a government report released to the people? Is it meant to inspire? to inform? to persuade?)
  • Is the author a reliable source? (are they knowledgeable about the information? are they trustworthy? is there a personal bias that might interfere with their ability to look at something objectively?)

POV can be difficult for some to grasp and others just instinctively know how to do it. If you struggle with POV, often the easiest way to explain it is for you to see examples of what IS POV and what ISN'T. Typically, it is something you must practice, and you should consider your course DBQ's to be practice. This is where you will try out POV statements, and receive feedback over them, allowing you to continue to develop this skill. But, don't worry, you will also be provided with several items to help you along the way.

 

Wolf icon

The Big, Bad Wolf.

What do the big, bad wolf and the 3 little pigs have to do with DBQ's and POV? Click here to read the excerpt to find out. Links to an external site.

Think about the story of the 3 Little Pigs that you have grown up with. . . how is this version different? Why is this version different? Which version do you trust as being more accurate? Why? What might have influenced the Wolf's story?

 

 

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