Start with inference, not provenance
The first question is usually: what does the source tell us? State an inference rather than copying or paraphrasing the wording. Then point to a specific detail that supports your inference.
Only after establishing content should provenance be used. A source’s author, date, audience and purpose matter because they can strengthen or limit a particular inference; they are not valuable simply because they can be named.
Use provenance with a purpose
Avoid stock phrases such as “this source is biased so it is unreliable”. Every source has a perspective. A government poster designed to persuade may be poor evidence for what everyone privately believed, but excellent evidence for the message the government wanted to promote.
Ask: useful for what? The answer should link provenance to the exact historical enquiry. A source can be very useful in one respect and limited in another.
- Who produced it?
- When and in what circumstances?
- For whom?
- For what likely purpose?
- How do those features affect the particular claim you are testing?
Description vs analysis
Description
- States what happened
- Lists facts or follows chronology
- May leave the relevance implicit
Analysis
- Explains why evidence matters
- Links evidence to the exact question
- Builds judgement throughout
Bring in contextual knowledge selectively
Contextual knowledge should test or develop the source, not become a separate mini-essay. If the source claims that a policy was successful, use a precise contextual example to support or challenge that impression.
One well-chosen piece of context is usually more powerful than a paragraph of unrelated background. The aim is to show how far the source fits what else is known.
Compare sources by claim, not appearance
When two sources are involved, compare what they say about the same issue. Identify agreement, disagreement or difference in emphasis and then explain why those differences may exist.
Do not treat a visual source and a written source as fundamentally different forms of evidence. Both require inference, supporting detail, context and evaluation.
Frequently asked questions
Does bias make a historical source useless?
No. Bias or purpose can itself be historically revealing. The key question is what the source is useful for and what claims it cannot securely support.
How much own knowledge should I use in a source answer?
Use enough precise contextual knowledge to test or develop the source. Avoid turning the response into a general topic essay.
Should I always discuss provenance?
Use provenance when it helps answer the question or evaluate the source. Mechanical provenance comments that do not affect the judgement add little.