What is Source Analysis?
• All of our knowledge of history is based on historical sources - without sources there is no
history
• Sources can be written, oral or artefacts, they can be primary (directly from the period) or
secondary (based upon primary)
• Part of the job of a historian is to analyse sources. How reliable are they? How useful are
they? Are they biased? What do they tell us?
• In doing source analysis your job is to show that you can see how each source helps us to
understand the topic and how useful/valuable it is.
• At the same time, all sources are made by humans and in some way
biased/unfair/unbalanced etc. Your job is to detect and see past this.
• Source Analysis can only be done when you have a deep understanding of a topic or
period, and by practicing with different sources.
1. Identify and explain messages of a Source
In this question you are asked to identify what a source is intended to
communicate to the viewer/reader.
• What is it trying to tell us? Is there a clear and obvious meaning? What is
the speaker/writer/artist trying to say?
• If it is a graph or statistic, what point does it make? Sometimes the meaning
of a source will be hard to tell.
HOW TO ANSWER:
'The source says that/tells us/means/implies/suggests/indicates
that....X is y because it refers to z'. You should always explain your
answer further to demonstrate how much you understand.
You should also refer to tone and symbolism in this question
2. Compare and Contrast the messages of TWO
sources
• What are the sources telling us about the topic? Do they say the same or
different things?
• Usually a 4 mark question marked as below - ONE MARK EACH
HOW TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION
- Source 1 states/argues/claims/believes/implies that………
- Source 2 states that… (DO NOT JUST RESTATE THE SOURCE)
- Both sources agree/accept/acknowledge/show/reflect that
- However, these sources disagree/conflict/are different in that 1/2
3. Identify and Explain Context of Sources
• When were these sources made? What was happening then?
• What do we need to know to make sense of them?
HOW TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION
Sources 1 and 2 were created during/refer to the events of…
- Include facts/dates/information relevant to this
- Try to be specific to the source, but still give the overall context
- Don’t be vague – be as specific as possible - provide FDSQ which are
relevant to your answer
- Aim for 1 year before the events as a rule of thumb
4. How useful are the sources to us in providing
understanding of topic? (Refer
to strengths and weaknesses)
• Use the THREE Rs: How relevant/revealing/releviable is each source?
• Can they be fully trusted? Are they biased or misleading or inaccurate?
HOW TO ANSWER
Source 1 demonstrates that/supports idea that/reflects the belief that ..
however, does not include/mention y/is biased towards
[who created source can be v helpful here!]
Source 2 supports the idea that x, however Source 2 does not
acknowledge/suggests that y which is false/is made by
- Nb – 2 strengths 1 weakness is a good rule
- On balance, Source 2 is more insightful as it shows that/reflects/supports..
5. Identify/Account for the perspective of creator of
Source.
• Who created the source? Who is saying this? Why would they say it?
• What is their point of view?
• What is their motive? Can we fully trust them?
(Usually SIX marks - 3 marks per 2 sources as below)
HOW TO ANSWER
Source 3 appears to be made by a supporter/sympathiser/follower of x who
believes that …. [political ideology, economic motive?]
Source 3 can be said to be biased/relatively unbiased as it…..
The motive/purpose for the creation of Source 3 is to persuade the reader
that..
Nb even if source is stats/data what argument could it possibly support?
5. Evaluate the usefulness of ALL sources in understanding topic
or To what extent to the sources reflect X (6 marks)
• How much do the sources tell us about the topic?
• Do they tell us everything? What else is there to discuss/consider?
In this question you should make a general discussion of the topic but you
must REFER TO THE SOURCES to support your ideas.
HOW TO ANSWER
Start with an overall general statement on the specific topic, then discuss the
overall value/relevance/significance of each source but avoid just restating the
point/message of the source. Think in terms how they all fit together:
Sources provide significant/some/partial insight into X SEE OVER
5. Evaluate the usefulness of sources in understanding X
or To what extent to the sources reflect x (6 marks)
• During the period of x there was a/b..
• ..as shown in source 1 which demonstrates/referred to in S2/can be see in
S3
• On the other hand/However/On balance….. Finally…..
Discuss how the sources may not fully reflect the topic (but remember that no
source can cover everything) and may oversimplify or leave out significant
points or information.
E.g.‘Sources tend to exaggerate the importance of x, but do not include that
…..
This the most difficult question and can sometimes be seen as a ‘mini-essay’
or overall comment on your specific topic.
