[yunghamz]

Hi, Would you please provide me with techniques that i could use when analysing sources. I have been told that looking at the reliability, completeness,consistency, typical and utility are useful but i do not have a broad understanding of these. Sentences that show examples of how each one is applied would really help. By the way, my exam board is OCR and the course i am doing is the origins of the french revolution.

Thanks.

[MrJohnDClare]

This is a frequently-asked question, and I'm afraid that there is precious little out there on the web - some past posts on this forum include:
http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/studentforu...?showtopic=1780

http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/studentforu...?showtopic=4404

The beginning of this topic also looks very helpful, though long-winded: http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/studentforu...?showtopic=1495


For A-level specifically, a teacher named 'Helen S' has posted this document on the teacher's forum.

Also I have some stuff aimed at GCSE pupils - perhaps a little basic fpr A-level, but the principles are the same:
On sourcework in general: http://www.johndclar..._sourcework.htm.
And this for detailed specific advice on utility of sources: http://www.johndclar...estion2_c.shtml.


The general trick for ALL sources questions is:
FIRST, look at the CONTENT of the source -- what it is saying and what it is inferring -- and suggest ways how this helps answer the question (how true/ how useful etc.) you have been asked.
SECOND, look at the PROVENANCE of the source -- who wrote it, why and when -- and suggest ways how this helps answer the question (how true/ howeuseful etc.) you have been asked.


The only other advice I have - as your question implicitly acknowledged - is to make sure that you address the issue in the question:
reliability - how reliable/ trustworthy
utility - how useful (including useful for what)
completeness - how much content, and what is missing
consistency - internal disagreements
typical - how far is it representative
and do not stray into other issues; STAY EXCLUSIVELY RELEVANT

[yunghamz]

Thank you for the post, it really answered what i was looking for.

Just one more question, should i put the reliability, completeness etc in separate paragraphs when i am witting about them or group a couple into 1.

[MrJohnDClare]

yunghamz, on May 26 2009, 01:39 PM, said:

Should i put the reliability, completeness etc in separate paragraphs when i am witting about them or group a couple into 1.

I'd separate them out so that it's clear you understand the difference.
And ONLY address them if the question requires it.

[yunghamz]

Thank you for your help