How to answer source questions for 2N…

“With reference to these sources and your understanding of the historical

context, assess the value of these three source…” (30 marks)
1. Plan!
Just like with the interpretation questions, planning is essential. For each
extract, make a table like the one below:
Content Provenance Tone
What is the gist of the Time – when was it What is the tone of the
source? What is the written? What was source? Are any points
overall main point the happening around this particularly stressed?
source is trying to time? Frustrated?
make? Author – who wrote the Judgemental?
source/what is their Panicked?
background?
Audience – who is the
source intended for?
Purpose- what type of
source is it? A
speech/diary etc.
Place – where did it
appear? Who would
have accessed it?

A level 5 response will:

Show a very good understanding of all three sources in relation to both

content and provenance and combine this with a strong awareness of the
historical context to present a balanced argument on their value for the
particular purpose given in the question.

The answer will convey a substantiated judgement.

The response demonstrates a very good understanding of context.

Structure:
IDEALLY NO MORE THAN 2 SIDES OF A4; A PARAGRAPH A BULLET POINT?
P1 – PROVENANCE

Why does the provenance of the source make it valuable?

Reasons why the source is limited in its value in terms of its provenance.
Refer to TAAPP (time, author, audience, purpose, place when referencing
provenance). Don’t forget to refer to the TONE of the source. You do not have
to mention all the TAAPP – try and refer explicitly to 3.

P2 – CONTENT

Reasons why the source is valid in terms of its content

Reasons why the source is limited in its value in terms of its

content

JUDGEMENT: Analysing the sources content and provenance together, to what

extent is the source valuable to an historian? PRODUCE A BALANCED
ARGUMENT although you are allowed to lean to one side. Reach a judgement
referring to both content and provenance – it’s OK to argue that the source is
limited in terms of provenance but useful in content also or the other way
around.
DON’T:
 Use the word ‘bias’ or ‘invalid.’
 Invalid suggests that the source is of no use whatsoever.
DO:
 Try to refer to time in provenance – this is the best place to apply
contextual knowledge in terms of time reference.
Example paragraph format: