External criticism of documents used in historical research asks which

External criticism of documents used in historical research asks which of the following questions?

a. Are the documents real or fraudulent?
b. Are the eyewitnesses who provided the information still living?
c. Is the document well known?
d. Is the information in the document interesting?

ESSAYBID ANSWER

ANS: A
External criticism determines the validity of source material.
Although it might be useful to know whether or not the writers of the document are living, this does not relate to external criticism. External criticism determines the validity of source material.
If the document is well known, the researcher might have more information about it, but in and of itself that does not provide external criticism. External criticism determines the validity of source material.
Whether the document is interesting is up to the researcher and the needs of the study. External criticism determines the validity of source material.