Daniel is researching Molly Pitcher for a history project about the American Revolutionary War. He found a letter written by a soldier during the war.
What can Daniel do to confirm the letter’s credibility?
A.
make sure there are no grammatical or spelling errors in the letter
B.
investigate the publishers of the letter and confirm their trustworthiness
C.
ensure the information in the letter answers the research question he formulated
D.
find other sources written by the same author to make sure he had extensive knowledge about the war
D. find other sources written by the same author to make sure he had extensive knowledge about the war.
To confirm the credibility of the letter written by a soldier during the American Revolutionary War, Daniel can take the following steps:
A. Making sure there are no grammatical or spelling errors in the letter: While checking for errors can indicate some level of authenticity, it is not sufficient on its own to confirm the letter's credibility. Mistakes can still be present in authentic letters.
B. Investigating the publishers of the letter and confirming their trustworthiness: This step can be useful if the letter was published or if there is specific information about the publisher. It can help to verify if the publisher has a reputation for accuracy and reliability. However, since the letter is found by Daniel rather than through a publisher, this step may not be applicable in this case.
C. Ensuring the information in the letter answers the research question he formulated: This step is crucial as it helps to determine if the content of the letter aligns with Daniel's research question. If the letter provides relevant and accurate information, it suggests that it could be a credible source. Therefore, this is an important step for Daniel to take.
D. Finding other sources written by the same author to make sure he had extensive knowledge about the war: This step can provide supplementary evidence to establish the credibility of the letter. If the author has other writings that demonstrate their knowledge and expertise on the subject of the American Revolutionary War, it lends credibility to the letter. However, it may not always be feasible or possible to find other sources written by the same author.
In summary, to confirm the letter's credibility, Daniel should ensure that the information in the letter aligns with his research question (C) and, if possible, seek other sources by the same author to gauge their expertise on the subject (D). While checking for errors (A) and investigating the publishers' trustworthiness (B) can provide some insights, they may not be as determinative in this specific case.