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Shira Woolf Matric 2022
TIPS FOR IEB SOURCE BASED PAPER 2
SOURCE ANALYSIS
Analyzing sources in history involves understanding whether they are
primary, secondary, or tertiary sources. Each type provides different
perspectives and serves different purposes in historical research.
In analyzing any source, it's important to consider its context, reliability,
and purpose. By critically evaluating each source, historians can construct
a more accurate understanding of the past.
1. PRIMARY SOURCES:
Primary sources are firsthand accounts or original materials created
during the time being studied. They offer direct evidence or firsthand
testimony about an event, person, or period.
Examples of primary sources:
Diaries and letters
Official documents (e.g., constitutions, treaties, laws)
Speeches and interviews
Artifacts (e.g., tools, clothing, artwork)
Newspapers and magazines from the time period
Photographs and videos
How to analyze primary sources:
Context: Consider the historical context in which the source was created.
What was happening at the time?
Bias: Analyze the author's perspective and potential biases. What might
have influenced their viewpoint?
Reliability: Assess the reliability of the source. Is it likely to be accurate,
or could there be inaccuracies or distortions?
Purpose: Determine the purpose of the source. Why was it created, and
what does it aim to communicate?
Corroboration: Compare the primary source with other primary and
secondary sources to corroborate information and gain a more complete
understanding.
2. SECONDARY SOURCES:
Secondary sources are interpretations or analyses of primary sources by
scholars and historians. They are created after the time period being
studied and provide analysis, commentary, or evaluation of historical
events.
Examples of secondary sources:
History books and textbooks
Biographies
Shira Woolf Matric 2022
TIPS FOR IEB SOURCE BASED PAPER 2
SOURCE ANALYSIS
Analyzing sources in history involves understanding whether they are
primary, secondary, or tertiary sources. Each type provides different
perspectives and serves different purposes in historical research.
In analyzing any source, it's important to consider its context, reliability,
and purpose. By critically evaluating each source, historians can construct
a more accurate understanding of the past.
1. PRIMARY SOURCES:
Primary sources are firsthand accounts or original materials created
during the time being studied. They offer direct evidence or firsthand
testimony about an event, person, or period.
Examples of primary sources:
Diaries and letters
Official documents (e.g., constitutions, treaties, laws)
Speeches and interviews
Artifacts (e.g., tools, clothing, artwork)
Newspapers and magazines from the time period
Photographs and videos
How to analyze primary sources:
Context: Consider the historical context in which the source was created.
What was happening at the time?
Bias: Analyze the author's perspective and potential biases. What might
have influenced their viewpoint?
Reliability: Assess the reliability of the source. Is it likely to be accurate,
or could there be inaccuracies or distortions?
Purpose: Determine the purpose of the source. Why was it created, and
what does it aim to communicate?
Corroboration: Compare the primary source with other primary and
secondary sources to corroborate information and gain a more complete
understanding.
2. SECONDARY SOURCES:
Secondary sources are interpretations or analyses of primary sources by
scholars and historians. They are created after the time period being
studied and provide analysis, commentary, or evaluation of historical
events.
Examples of secondary sources:
History books and textbooks
Biographies
