Summary Common Source Based Questions

Typical Essay Questions:

1. Use your Own Knowledge…..
2. Why is the photograph iconic?
- Symbolises time period/event
3. Main Focus
- The first thing you notice - literally the first thing you see




- E.g In the above photograph, the main focus is a white man holding
the arm of a congolese man with his hand cut off
4. Photographer’s Intention
5. Give a caption
- Short and attention grabbing
- Might be asked to give a biased capture (takes one side) - ask yourself
if it can be used for both sides, if it can, it’s not biased

6. Primary or Secondary Source


Primary Secondary

First Hand Second hand

Letters Books
Video Footage Articles
Diaries Documentaries
Photographs Encyclopedias
Official Documents Textbooks
Records Reviews
Newspapers Essays
Magazine
Speeches
Statistics

, Primary and secondary source examples
Primary source Secondary source




Novel Article analyzing the novel




Painting Exhibition catalog explaining

the painting




Letters and diaries written by Biography of the historical

a historical figure figure




Essay by a philosopher Textbook summarizing the

philosopher’s ideas




Photographs of a historical Documentary about the

event historical event




Government documents about Newspaper article about the

a new policy new policy




Music recordings Academic book about the

musical style




Results of an opinion poll Blog post interpreting the

results of the poll