SOURCE ANALYSIS
ORIGIN
• Who, where and when
• Is it a primary source (created at the time of the event) or a secondary source (created later)?
• Who is the author or creator? What is their background or perspective?
Anonymous… British…
PURPOSE
• Why the source was created.
• Was it meant to inform, persuade, record events, expose someone, provoke thought, express
belief, critique or entertain?
• What audience was it intended for, and what message does it aim to convey?
VALUE / USEFULNESS
• All sources are useful
• It can provide insight into people’s attitudes, beliefs, or events at that time.
• A primary source gives a direct perspective, while a secondary source offers analysis and
interpretation.
Drawings, paintings, cartoons: effectively capture the spirit of the time, characterizing it.
Contain evidence about a culture at a specific moment in history
Visual stimulating peace of historical evidence.
Photos: Personal Insight: offer a direct view of the emotions, experiences, or perspectives of people
during a historical moment. Cultural Context: reveal details about the customs, technology, fashion,
or social practices of a particular time period. Documenting Events: serve as evidence of a significant
event, capturing specific moments and the individuals or groups involved.
RELIABILITY
• Looks at origin, purpose and limitations. (Usually unreliable on its own)
PRIMARY SOURCES SECONDARY SOURCES
Created during the time of the event (e.g., Created after the event by someone who
letters, photographs, official documents, didn’t experience it firsthand (e.g., textbooks,
diaries). academic articles, biographies).
• Value: Provides direct, firsthand evidence, • Value: Offers analysis, interpretation, and a
new perspective. broader context, well researched, objective.
• Limitations: Can be biased, subjective • Limitations: May include the author’s bias or
incomplete, or affected by the author’s rely on limited primary sources, selected/
perspective or not accurate. interpreted.
ORIGIN
• Who, where and when
• Is it a primary source (created at the time of the event) or a secondary source (created later)?
• Who is the author or creator? What is their background or perspective?
Anonymous… British…
PURPOSE
• Why the source was created.
• Was it meant to inform, persuade, record events, expose someone, provoke thought, express
belief, critique or entertain?
• What audience was it intended for, and what message does it aim to convey?
VALUE / USEFULNESS
• All sources are useful
• It can provide insight into people’s attitudes, beliefs, or events at that time.
• A primary source gives a direct perspective, while a secondary source offers analysis and
interpretation.
Drawings, paintings, cartoons: effectively capture the spirit of the time, characterizing it.
Contain evidence about a culture at a specific moment in history
Visual stimulating peace of historical evidence.
Photos: Personal Insight: offer a direct view of the emotions, experiences, or perspectives of people
during a historical moment. Cultural Context: reveal details about the customs, technology, fashion,
or social practices of a particular time period. Documenting Events: serve as evidence of a significant
event, capturing specific moments and the individuals or groups involved.
RELIABILITY
• Looks at origin, purpose and limitations. (Usually unreliable on its own)
PRIMARY SOURCES SECONDARY SOURCES
Created during the time of the event (e.g., Created after the event by someone who
letters, photographs, official documents, didn’t experience it firsthand (e.g., textbooks,
diaries). academic articles, biographies).
• Value: Provides direct, firsthand evidence, • Value: Offers analysis, interpretation, and a
new perspective. broader context, well researched, objective.
• Limitations: Can be biased, subjective • Limitations: May include the author’s bias or
incomplete, or affected by the author’s rely on limited primary sources, selected/
perspective or not accurate. interpreted.
