Source Type Possible Values Possible Limitations Questions that we mig

of the source
Statistics Government Government origin - possible distortions. Purpose?
information about trying to convince people of a certain
economics/military situation (ie. success of Stalin's
performance etc - industrialization drive etc etc).
factual details.
Memoirs/personal Personal insight into a Subjective experience of one aspect of Is this a person who was
recollections/diaries key event based on events - caught up in the moment, no important to the events?
firsthand experience. overview of events.
Political opinions of the viewer can
Important people in impact their judgement - not a balanced Has there been a big tim
the events might give view. Emotionally partisan. between the events and
their perspective on Recalling from a later date means that person describing their
what happened - key the person's views might have been account of them?
actors give their views. affected by knowledge of later events,
new interpretations of what happened.
Memory as unreliable!
Motives in producing memoirs etc - i.e.
trying to justify actions or policies
(politicians and statesmen aware that
their diaries will be read later!)
Maps Show how producers Politically motivated not just 'showing Who made the map and
of the map want you to things as they are'. Are there significant plac
see that part of the names - how are these
world - what is the detailed?
Israeli view of the
territories in the
region?
Visually show any
historic changes in the
territorial boundaries
of the region.
Diplomatic Insight into Only selected documents are published - Purpose of document! W
documents/official government decision government are unlikely to release the government publish
making, and views of things that make them look bad! Often
government records
leaders/key players, in intended to defend and justify any
important events. actions or policies taken.
Intentions of leaders!
Cartoons (and Firsthand reactions to Tend to oversimplify events they Who produced it? When
possible art) events as they are describe - can only use images and Other events that might
happening and limited amount of text! influenced the portrayal
unfolding - Subjective response to events - not cartoon?
contemporary insight representative - only gives views of one
into a particular cartoonist/newspaper, not the whole
country's response. population!
Tend to exaggerate and ridicule -
propaganda?
Newspapers Firsthand reactions to No hindsight or overview - just short- Where is the newspaper
events as they are term view, no larger perspective. based? When was the a
happening and published - directly after
unfolding - Very partial and politically subjective - events? Who is the targe
contemporary insight only gives account based on perspective audience of the paper?
into a particular of country/ political viewpoint of paper.
country's response.
 Journalists who
witnessed events?
Photographs Documents events at Photos can be staged for propaganda Why was it taken? etc e
first-hand - purposes! They can also be clipped and
communicates edited (i.e. removal of Trotsky).
powerfully in a visual
format.
Speech Clear insight into a Propaganda and unbalanced: purpose to Purpose and context of
leader's intentions or persuade, can any of it be trusted really? speech: who is the audie
opinions on a How far were these policies actually put
particular issue. into practice?
Shows how leaders try
to communicate and
persuade people of
their point-of-view - i.e.
style and strategies of
persuasion.
Freelance Writer "It is written in 2005 "It is written by a Western freelance What are the credentials
and is therefore up-to- writer and (researcher who may not read author on this subject? D
date and has the or speak Arabic or Hebrew). The writer have the
benefit of hindsight is not an academic historian and there is skills/background/author
having access to no information given about his speak on the topic?
many sources." From professional background, which may Where and when was th
IB markscheme, Nov make his account less objective." From source published?
2010. IB markscheme, Nov 2010. Are there language issu
Non-historian - might lack skills to i.e. access to foreign
produce a detailed account based on documents, translations
evidence, etc. Does the title of the boo
reveal anything about its
and scope?
Academic historian "It was published very Can favor a particular side in the events, Academic credentials of
recently by an depending on background and historian? Background o
acknowledged expert. perspective of the historian! historian - politically, nat
It is an in-depth study Perhaps the title of the work indicates it etc?
of the history of the is more general, and will not focus in Are there language issu
region." From IB specific detail on topic involved. i.e. access to foreign
markscheme, May Does the date of the work suggest it documents, translations
2010. might be slightly 'out-of-date' now - i.e. Does the title of the boo
Title could be very more recent events might have made reveal anything about its
specifically focused on the argument less relevant, or newer and scope?
the topic in question - interpretations might have challenged
look carefully at the the historian's views
title!
Could provide a new
perspective on the
events, based on new
evidence or new ideas
on what happened -
look at title and
contents of the source
School textbook Can provide an Aimed at school children, lacks Where is it from? Title o
accessible overview to thererfore in-depth analysis and serious textbook?
a topic, if written by academic discussion.
teaching experts with
academic training in
the subject. If from an SPS/belligerent (i.e. Israel or
If a textbook from a Egypt etc), extremely unbalanced
single-party state or sources as propaganda - unlikely to give
belligerent nation, can both sides of any argument etc etc.
show how government
want children to view a
particular event.