Types of Questions with One Source
- Why was this source published at X date?
- What is the message of this cartoon?
- Does this source prove that X happened?
- How reliable is this source?
- How useful is this source?
- Are you surprised by this source?
Example: “Why was this source published?” You must explain the purpose, i.e. what the source aimed to change about the way people thought or behaved?
Types of Questions with Two Sources
- How similar are the sources?
- Why do the sources give such different opinions?
- How trustworthy or reliable are the sources?
- How useful are the sources?
- How typical are the sources?
- Does one source prove that the other is wrong?
- Which of the sources would have influenced X more?
- How far does one source help you understand why the other was written?
- How far does one source make the other surprising?
How to answer source-based questions – cross-referencing
One of the most important things to remember is that a source should never be used in isolation. It needs to be interpreted in the light of information obtained from other sources. There are three main reasons why cross-referencing between sources is so important
- We can only judge how useful and reliable a source is by comparing it with what we already know and what other sources say.
- It can help us to solve mysteries or apparent contradictions.
- By using a combination of sources, we can often deduce things that none of the sources say when looked at individually.
Key phrases in short answer/essay responses for Source-Based Questions
| The content of the source is useful/not useful because it
The content of the source is useful because it helps us to learn that….. The content of the source is useful because it shows how…. The content of the source illustrates how….. But the content of the source is not completely useful because it does not tell us how……… The content of the source is only limited in helping us to understand….because…….. The content of the source is only useful to a small extent because….. The content of the source is useful to a large extent because…… |
Reveals
Demonstrates Illustrates Shows Tells us Exposes Sheds light on States Suggests Argues Asserts Implies Contradicts Supports Agrees Confirms |
| The origin of the source is useful/not useful because…………
The origin is useful because it shows the opinion of……. The origin of the source makes it less valid/ very valid because The origin of the source reduces it’s usefulness because….. The origin of the source makes the evidence unreliable/reliable because…… |
Secondary
Contemporary Primary Produced by/when/in…… Created by/when/in…… After Hindsight
|
| The purpose of the source is……
The purpose of the source makes it useful/not useful because…….. The purpose of the source makes it less valid/ very valid because The purpose of the source reduces it’s usefulness because….. The purpose of the source makes the evidence unreliable/reliable because…… |
It is one sided because
It has a Motive to lie/tell the truth because It is trying to prove….. It is trying to persuade….. It is trying to convince It was made to….. It was created to….. It was produced to…. It is trying to inform…… It is trying to present the view that……. |
| The content of the source is useful/not useful because it…
The content of the source is useful because it helps us to learn that… The content of the source is useful because it shows how…. The content of the source illustrates how….. But the content of the source is not completely useful because it does not tell us how… The content of the source is only limited in helping us to understand….because… The content of the source is only useful to a small extent because….. The content of the source is useful to a large extent because…… |
Reveals
Demonstrates Illustrates Shows Tells us Exposes Sheds light on States Suggests Argues Asserts Implies Contradicts Supports Agrees Confirms |
| The origin of the source is useful/not useful because…………
The origin is useful because it shows the opinion of……. The origin of the source makes it less valid/ very valid because The origin of the source reduces it’s usefulness because….. The origin of the source makes the evidence unreliable/reliable because…… |
Secondary
Contemporary Primary Produced by/when/in…… Created by/when/in…… After Hindsight
|
| The purpose of the source is……
The purpose of the source makes it useful/not useful because…….. The purpose of the source makes it less valid/ very valid because The purpose of the source reduces it’s usefulness because….. The purpose of the source makes the evidence unreliable/reliable because…… |
It is one sided because
It has a Motive to lie/tell the truth because It is trying to prove….. It is trying to persuade….. It is trying to convince It was made to….. It was created to….. It was produced to…. It is trying to inform…… It is trying to present the view that……. |