Point of View Definition

DEFINITION:

Identifying Point of View (POV) is an attempt at establishing an author’s bias and/or motivation within a primary source. Clarifying an author’s logic in his/her opinions is a form of high level analysis.

SOME METHODS OF IDENTIFYING POINT OF VIEW:

Political ideology, Class, Race, Religion, Nationality, Profession, Gender

POV is NOT:

An author’s opinion.

INCORRECT:

“Robespierre’s point of view was that terror could accomplish great things.”

POV IS:

An explanation of WHY an author had that opinion.

ACCEPTABLE POV:

“Robespiere, believed that terror could accomplish great things. He had that point of view because he was amember of the radical Jacobin club.”

BETTER POV:

“Robespierre, with the opinion of the typical radical Jacobin, believed that terror couldlead to great things.”

BEST POV:

“Robespierre’s membership of the radical Jacobin society led him to believe that terror could accomplish great things.”

SOPHISTICATED POV:

“The opinions of the Jacobins were profoundly rtadical. For example, Robespierre was clearly influenced by these views to believe that terror could be beneficial.”