Source analysis and utility
By the end of this chapter you will be able to
- Say whether a source is primary or secondary, and what type it is
- Use provenance to explain how far a source can be trusted for a question
- Pick out the content, tone and purpose of a source, with evidence from the text
- Judge how useful a source is for a question, with a reason and a limit
You should already know
- Historical evidence from KS3 (sources, periods, change over time)
- Reading a short text carefully
Where this leads
- Interpretations of the past (Chapter 2)
- Causation (Chapter 3)
GCSE History. Content follows the GCSE (9-1) subject content for England (Edexcel and AQA). Content references: Identify primary and secondary sources, and written, visual, oral and artefact sources, Explain provenance: who made a source, when, why and for whom, Read a source for its content, tone and purpose, Judge the utility of a source for a stated enquiry, using origin, purpose, content and limits, Use own knowledge to test a source, and cross-refer two sources to check where they agree.
Exercise P Do you remember?
Method. Think of the kinds of evidence left from the past.
- List the types. Letters, records, paintings and maps all survive from Tudor times.letter, record, painting, map
- Write the answer. Accept any sensible source, for example a letter, a parish record, a painting or a map.
Check. Each of these is a source a historian could read or look at.
Method. Recall the word for first-hand evidence.
- Recall. First-hand evidence made at the time is called a primary source.primary
- Write the answer. primary
Check. A secondary source is written later, by someone who did not take part.
Method. Think about the history of where a source came from.
- Recall. The origin of a source, including who made it and why, is its provenance.provenance
- Write the answer. provenance
Check. Provenance is the first thing to check before judging a source.
Method. Subtract the earlier year from the later year.
- Subtract. The later year minus the earlier year gives the number of years.1915 - 1815 = 100
- Write the answer. 100
Check. 1815 + 100 = 1915.
Method. Recall the name of the period after 1945.
- Recall. The rivalry between the superpowers after 1945 is called the Cold War.Cold War
- Write the answer. Cold War
Check. The Cold War is studied in Chapter 8.
Types of source and provenance
A source is any evidence from the past that a historian can study. Sources come in four main types: written (letters, reports, handbills, books), visual (photographs, paintings, cartoons), oral (recordings and interviews of memories) and artefacts (objects such as tickets, tools and clothes).
A primary source was made at the time, by someone who saw or took part. A secondary source was written later, often by a historian who used other sources. Primary sources are first-hand; secondary sources are interpretations.
The provenance of a source is its origin: who made it, when, why and for whom. Provenance is the first thing to check, because it affects how far you can trust the source.
Source A (invented source for practice). Type: private letter. Author: Thomas Reid, a stationmaster (invented). Date: 1852. Written for: his sister Hannah.
Dear Hannah, The engine came through the cutting on Monday for the first time. Half the village walked up to see it. I confess I was frightened when the whistle sounded, though the children were delighted. The company promises coal and cheaper bread within a year. I have my doubts, but I shall keep them to myself, since the directors pay my wages. Your loving brother, Thomas.
Source B (invented source for practice). Type: printed handbill (an advertisement). Produced by: Northern Junction Railway Company (invented). Date: 1851. Purpose: to attract passengers and shareholders.
TRAVEL TO MARKET IN COMFORT. Trains leave Hollin Bridge every morning at seven. Third-class fares from 2 pence a mile. Shareholders will receive a fair return on their money. Ask at the station office.
Source C (invented source for practice). Type: official report. Author: Dr E. Marsh, parish doctor (invented). Date: 1854. Written for: the parish council.
Since the line opened, coal is cheaper and the mill is busy. However, the new cottages beside the line have no drains. Of the forty-two children I examined in March, nineteen had a persistent cough. I recommend that the council insist on drainage before more houses are built.
Source D (invented source for practice). Type: secondary extract from a modern local history (invented). Author: A. Fenwick, historian (invented). Date: 2015.
The railway transformed Hollin Bridge within a decade. Coal and goods arrived more cheaply, yet the gains went mainly to the mill owners and the shareholders. Many labourers’ families remained in poor housing near the line.
Key ideas
- Four types of source: written, visual, oral and artefact.
- Primary = made at the time, first-hand. Secondary = written later, by someone else.
- Provenance = who, when, why and for whom.
- Always name the type and the provenance before you judge a source.
Method. A primary source was made at the time, by someone who saw or took part.
- Check the date. Source C is dated 1854, the same time as the events it describes.1854: at the time
- Check the author. Dr Marsh examined the children himself, so he was a witness.an eyewitness
- Write the answer. primary
Check. A history book written in 2015 about 1854 would be secondary.
Method. Name the type from the form of the source, then check the date.
- Type. It is a printed text, so it is a written source.written
- Date. It was written in 2015, long after the events, so it is secondary.secondary
- Write the answer. written, secondary
Check. Being secondary does not make a source useless; it means it is not first-hand.
Method. Give the four parts of provenance, one at a time.
- Who. It was produced by the Northern Junction Railway Company.Northern Junction Railway Company
- When and why. It is dated 1851 and was made to attract passengers and shareholders.1851; to attract passengers and shareholders
- Write the answer. Northern Junction Railway Company, 1851, to attract passengers and shareholders
Check. The provenance answers who, when, why and for whom.
Watch out
Watch out: a source is not primary just because it is old. Ask whether it was made at the time by someone who saw or took part. A 1950s book about 1852 is secondary, even though it is older than this year.
Exam tip
Exam tip. Write the type first (written, visual, oral or artefact), then say primary or secondary in one phrase. This takes ten seconds and earns the first mark in most source questions.
Exercise 1A Types of source and provenance
Method. A primary source was made at the time, by someone involved.
- Check the date. Source A is dated 1852, when the railway had just reached the village.1852: at the time
- Check the author. Thomas Reid saw the engine himself and wrote about it.eyewitness
- Write the answer. primary
Check. A letter written at the time by someone who saw the event is first-hand.
Method. A secondary source is written later, by someone who did not take part.
- Check the date. The extract was written in 2015, 163 years after 1852.2015 - 1852 = 163 years later
- Check the author. A. Fenwick used earlier evidence to write about the past.uses other evidence
- Write the answer. secondary
Check. Secondary sources can still be useful; they are simply not first-hand.
Method. It was made at the time, to advertise the railway.
- Check the date. It is dated 1851, while the line was being opened.1851: at the time
- Write the answer. primary
Check. It is a first-hand advertisement.
Method. It was written at the time by the doctor who examined the children.
- Check the date. It is dated 1854, when the doctor was examining the children.1854: at the time
- Write the answer. primary
Check. It is first-hand evidence from a witness.
Method. It was written long after the events, by a historian.
- Check the date. 2015 is long after 1852 and 1854.2015: later
- Write the answer. secondary
Check. It is an interpretation of the past.
Method. Look at the form of the source, not its content.
- Look at its form. A printed handbill is text on paper.printed text
- Name the type. Printed text is a written source.written
- Write the answer. written
Check. A handbill is written, even though it also has layout.
Method. A photograph is shown to the eye.
- Look at its form. A photograph is something we look at.seen with the eye
- Name the type. Pictures and photographs are visual sources.visual
- Write the answer. visual
Check. A painting or cartoon would also be visual.
Method. Think about how the memory was passed on.
- Look at its form. The memory was spoken and recorded.spoken
- Name the type. Spoken memories recorded for later study are oral sources.oral
- Write the answer. oral
Check. Oral sources need care: memories can change over time.
Method. Think about an object from the past.
- Look at its form. A ticket is an object that was used at the time.an object
- Name the type. Objects from the past are artefacts.artefact
- Write the answer. artefact
Check. Artefacts often need a date and a museum label to be useful.
Method. Read the provenance line of Source C.
- Find the author. The source box says the author is Dr E. Marsh, parish doctor.Dr E. Marsh
- Write the answer. Dr E. Marsh
Check. Dr E. Marsh is an invented author for practice.
Method. Read the date in the provenance line of Source B.
- Find the date. The provenance line gives 1851.1851
- Write the answer. 1851
Check. Source B is one year before Source A (1852).
Method. Read the “written for” part of the provenance.
- Find the reader. The report was written for the parish council.the parish council
- Write the answer. the parish council
Check. The audience affects what the author chooses to say.
Method. Read the purpose line of Source B.
- Find the purpose. The provenance line says it was made to attract passengers and shareholders.attract passengers, shareholders
- Write the answer. Accept any answer that says the company wanted to attract passengers or shareholders.
Check. An advertisement is made to sell something, so its purpose shapes what it says.
Method. Read the first line of the provenance.
- Who. Thomas Reid, a stationmaster, made it.Thomas Reid
- For whom. It was written for his sister Hannah.Hannah
- Write the answer. Accept any answer that names Thomas Reid (or a stationmaster) and his sister Hannah.
Check. Both parts are needed for a full provenance.
Method. Think about what makes a source reliable.
- Check the argument. Age does not decide reliability. Source A is one man’s private view, while Source D draws on many sources.age is not the test
- Decide. So the pupil is not right; each source must be judged on its origin and purpose.no
- Write the answer. no
Check. An older source can be less reliable if its author had a reason to mislead.
Reading a source for content, tone and purpose
Content is what the source says. Tone is the feeling in the words: worried, pleased, persuasive or calm. Purpose is why the author wrote it. Find evidence for each one by quoting or pointing to words in the source.
Words such as “frightened”, “doubts” and “recommend” show the author’s feelings and view. Look for them, then decide what they tell you.
Key ideas
- Content: what the source says, in your own words.
- Tone: the feeling of the words. Find one word or phrase as evidence.
- Purpose: why the author wrote it. Connect it to the provenance.
- Quote the source exactly when a question asks for a phrase.
Method. Look for the word that shows feeling.
- Find the feeling word. The word “frightened” shows the writer was afraid.frightened
- Name the tone. The writer is nervous, so the tone is anxious.anxious
- Write the answer. anxious
Check. The sentence also says the children were delighted, which shows a contrast in tone.
Method. Think about what the handbill is asking the reader to do.
- Look at the wording. It says “Travel to market in comfort” and “Ask at the station office”.urges the reader to travel
- Decide the purpose. A handbill that urges action is designed to persuade.persuade
- Write the answer. persuade
Check. Persuasion is the purpose of most advertisements.
Method. Search the source for the words about children and illness.
- Find the children. The doctor says “Of the forty-two children I examined in March”.forty-two children
- Find the illness. The next words are “nineteen had a persistent cough”.nineteen had a persistent cough
- Write the answer. nineteen had a persistent cough
Check. A quotation must be exact; check the spelling against the source.
Watch out
Watch out: a tone word is not the same as a summary. “The writer is worried about drains” is a summary; “worried” is the tone. Use the right word for the question you have been asked.
Exam tip
Exam tip. When a question says “quote”, copy the words exactly. When it says “explain”, use your own words and point to evidence.
Exercise 1B Content, tone and purpose
Method. Find the sentence about the whistle.
- Find the sentence. The sentence says “I confess I was frightened when the whistle sounded”.frightened
- Check the word. The word “frightened” is the feeling word.frightened
- Write the answer. frightened
Check. Thomas says he was frightened, not that he was angry.
Method. Find the word that says who was delighted.
- Find the phrase. The source says “though the children were delighted”.the children were delighted
- Name the group. The group is the children.children
- Write the answer. children
Check. The villagers walked up to see the engine; the children were the ones delighted.
Method. Look for the word about what Thomas thinks of the promise.
- Find the phrase. The source says “I have my doubts”.I have my doubts
- Name the word. The key word is doubts.doubts
- Write the answer. doubts
Check. Doubts show uncertainty, not certainty.
Method. Find the reason he gives in the same sentence.
- Find the reason. The source says “since the directors pay my wages”.pay my wages
- Explain it. Because the company pays him, he would not speak against it openly.depends on the company
- Write the answer. Accept any answer that says the directors pay his wages, so he depends on the company.
Check. This shows that the author’s job affects what he is willing to say.
Method. Read the headline and the first lines.
- Find the promises. The handbill says “Travel to market in comfort” and gives trains at seven and third-class fares.comfort; seven; fares
- Write the answer. Accept any answer that gives comfort, a morning train at seven, or cheap third-class fares.
Check. Any one promise is enough for this question.
Method. Look for words about money and return.
- Find the phrase. The source says “Shareholders will receive a fair return on their money”.a fair return on their money
- Check the audience. Shareholders are people who invest money in the company.investors
- Write the answer. Shareholders will receive a fair return on their money
Check. This phrase is for investors, not for travellers.
Method. Look at the capital letters and the promises.
- Look at the wording. It shouts “TRAVEL TO MARKET IN COMFORT” and promises a fair return.capital letters, promises
- Name the tone. That is the tone of an advertisement, which is persuasive.persuasive
- Write the answer. persuasive
Check. A calm factual tone would list the timetable without promises.
Method. Look for the sentence about the children.
- Find the sentence. The doctor writes “nineteen had a persistent cough”.nineteen had a persistent cough
- Check the wording. Copy the words exactly.exact quotation
- Write the answer. nineteen had a persistent cough
Check. The number matters: nineteen out of forty-two children.
Method. Look for the word after “recommend”.
- Find the recommendation. The doctor says the council should “insist on drainage before more houses are built”.insist on drainage
- Name it. The recommendation is drainage.drainage
- Write the answer. drainage
Check. The doctor wants the drains built before new houses.
Method. Look at the words about the cottages and the cough.
- Find the evidence. The source says “no drains” and “a persistent cough”.no drains; persistent cough
- Name the tone. These words show concern, so the tone is worried.worried
- Write the answer. worried
Check. The doctor is pleased that coal is cheaper, but the main tone is worry.
Method. Find the sentence about the gains.
- Find the phrase. The source says “the gains went mainly to the mill owners and the shareholders”.the mill owners and the shareholders
- Write the answer. the mill owners and the shareholders
Check. Labourers’ families are not named as gainers.
Method. Use the provenance: who wrote it and for whom.
- Link the provenance. It was written by the parish doctor for the parish council.doctor to council
- State the purpose. The purpose is to report on health and to ask for drains before more houses are built.advise on health and drainage
- Write the answer. Accept any answer that says the doctor wrote it to advise the council on health and drainage.
Check. A purpose answer links the author, the reader and the content.
Method. Name the tone of each source, then compare them.
- Name each tone. Source A is personal and uncertain; Source B is confident and persuasive.personal vs persuasive
- Compare. The letter is private and doubtful, while the handbill sells the railway to readers.uncertain vs confident
- Write the answer. Accept any answer that says Thomas’s letter is personal and uncertain, while the handbill is confident and aimed at buyers.
Check. Comparing tone means naming two different tones, not just describing content.
Judging utility
Utility means how useful a source is for a particular enquiry. To judge it, weigh four things: origin (who, when and why it was made), purpose (the reason it was produced), content (what it says), and limits (what it cannot tell you). A source can be very useful for one enquiry and useless for another.
Bias is not a reason to throw a source away. A biased source can be very useful, because it shows what its author wanted people to think.
Key ideas
- Utility is about one enquiry. Always name the enquiry first.
- Weigh origin, purpose, content and limits. Give one reason and one limit.
- Bias does not make a source useless; it tells you about the author.
- A good judgement is balanced and ends with a clear conclusion.
Method. Scan the four sources for a price.
- Look for a fare. Source B gives third-class fares from 2 pence a mile.B: 2 pence a mile
- Check the date. Source B is dated 1851, so it gives the price for the right year.1851
- Write the answer. B
Check. Source A gives no price and Source C does not mention fares.
Method. Ask what the source does not show about safety.
- Look at the purpose. Source B was made to sell tickets and shares, not to report accidents.a sales tool
- State the limit. So it cannot show the safety record of the railway.no safety evidence
- Write the answer. Accept any answer that says an advertisement does not show the safety record and is written to sell tickets.
Check. A limit points to what the source leaves out, not to whether it is true.
Method. Weigh the source’s strengths against its bias.
- Look at the origin. It is an official report by a doctor who examined the children himself.official, first-hand
- Weigh the limit. It covers only forty-two children in one month, but the figures are specific.specific figures
- Write the answer. Accept any answer that says it is an official record with examined figures from a professional.
Check. Specific figures from a witness are more useful than a general claim.
Watch out
Watch out: “this source is biased, so it is useless” is wrong. Bias shows the author’s purpose. Say what the bias tells you, then judge the usefulness for the enquiry.
Exam tip
Exam tip. Start a utility answer with the enquiry, then give origin, content and one limit. End with a judgement. Mark totals and wording are check board: confirm them with your specification.
Exercise 1C Judging utility for an enquiry
Method. Look for the source that mentions children and illness.
- Scan. Source C mentions children and a cough and drains near the line.C: children, cough, drains
- Compare. Source A mentions children only as delighted, and Source B does not mention health.A and B: not about health
- Write the answer. C
Check. Source C is the only source with specific health evidence.
Method. Look for a source made by the company in 1851.
- Check the date and author. Source B was produced by the Northern Junction Railway Company in 1851.B: company, 1851
- Check the purpose. It shows what the company wanted people to do: travel and invest.aims
- Write the answer. B
Check. Its purpose is itself evidence of the company’s aims.
Method. Think about the origin of the letter.
- Origin. It is a private letter written in 1852 by a man who saw the engine.first-hand, 1852
- Strength. So it gives a personal view of feelings, which the enquiry asks about.personal feelings
- Write the answer. Accept any answer that says it is a personal, first-hand view written at the time.
Check. Private letters often show feelings more openly than official sources.
Method. Check whether the letter gives numbers.
- Check the content. The letter says “half the village walked up to see it”, but gives no passenger numbers.no passenger numbers
- State the limit. It is also only one person’s view.one view
- Write the answer. Accept any answer that says it is one man’s view and gives no numbers of passengers.
Check. A single letter cannot show the whole village.
Method. Think about what an advertisement is for.
- Purpose. The handbill is written to sell tickets and shares.sell
- Limit. So it does not show accident records or safety evidence.no safety record
- Write the answer. Accept any answer that says an advertisement does not show the safety record and is written to sell tickets.
Check. The limit is what the source cannot show.
Method. Weigh the origin and the content.
- Origin. It was written by a doctor who examined the children, for the council.official, examined
- Content. It gives figures: nineteen of forty-two children.nineteen of forty-two
- Write the answer. Accept any answer that says it is an official record with examined figures from a professional.
Check. Figures from a witness are stronger than general claims.
Method. Look at how many children were examined and when.
- Find the number. The source says “Of the forty-two children I examined in March”.forty-two, March
- State the limit. So it cannot show the health of every child in the village.only some children
- Write the answer. Accept any answer that says the doctor examined only forty-two children, in March.
Check. A sample of one month cannot represent the whole village over time.
Method. Look at what Source D covers.
- Content. It says the railway transformed the village within a decade.overview of change
- Origin. A historian can use many sources, which gives a wider view.draws on many sources
- Write the answer. Accept any answer that says it draws on evidence and gives an overview of change over a decade.
Check. Secondary sources are good for overviews but not for first-hand detail.
Method. Check the date of the source.
- Origin. It was written in 2015, 163 years after 1852.2015
- Limit. So it is an interpretation, and the historian may have chosen which evidence to use.interpretation
- Write the answer. Accept any answer that says it is a later interpretation and may reflect the historian’s views.
Check. A secondary source needs checking against primary evidence.
Method. Use origin, content and one limit.
- Origin. It is a private letter written at the time by a stationmaster.first-hand
- Content and limit. It describes the first engine, but it is one view and gives no details of building.one view, no building detail
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that gives one reason from its origin or content and one limit.
Check. A judgement needs a reason and a limit in one sentence.
Method. Recall the four things to weigh.
- Recall. The four things are origin, purpose, content and limits.origin, purpose, content, limits
- Write the answer. origin, purpose, content
Check. Limits is also correct; the answer names any three of the four.
Method. Think about what bias shows.
- Check the argument. Bias does not make a source useless; it shows what the company wanted people to think.bias shows purpose
- Decide. So the pupil is not right: the bias is useful evidence of the company’s aims.no
- Write the answer. no
Check. A biased source is still useful for an enquiry into the bias itself.
Own knowledge and cross-referencing
Own knowledge is what you know about the period from your course. Use it to explain the context of a source: why the railway boom happened, or why towns were at risk from disease. Do not use it to replace the source.
Corroboration means checking whether two sources agree. Agreement makes a point stronger; disagreement tells you to look for a reason.
Check facts in this section against your own textbook or specification: dates marked check fact must be confirmed.
Key ideas
- Own knowledge explains the context of a source; it does not replace the source.
- Corroboration: two sources that agree give a stronger point.
- Check each claim against the text: quote or point to evidence.
- When two sources disagree, ask which has the better provenance and purpose.
Method. Recall the disease linked to dirty water in towns.
- Recall. Cholera spread in British towns in the 1840s and 1850s, through dirty water.cholera
- Link to the source. Source C’s worry about drains fits this context of disease.drains and disease
- Write the answer. cholera
Check. Check fact: confirm the dates in your own textbook.
Method. Scan Source A for the word coal.
- Scan. The letter says the company promises “coal and cheaper bread within a year”.coal
- Decide. The word is there, so the answer is yes.yes
- Write the answer. yes
Check. Mentioning coal does not mean Thomas agrees with the promise.
Method. Compare the two sources on housing.
- Source C. It says the new cottages beside the line have no drains.no drains
- Source D. It says many families remained in poor housing near the line.poor housing
- Decide. Both describe poor housing near the line, so they agree.yes
- Write the answer. yes
Check. Two different types of source (a report and a history book) agree.
Watch out
Watch out: own knowledge is not a shortcut around the source. If you add a fact, say how it helps to explain the source, and check it against your textbook.
Exam tip
Exam tip. In a “use your own knowledge” question, name one accurate fact, then link it to the source in one sentence. Two marks are often for the fact and the link.
Exercise 1D Own knowledge and cross-referencing
Method. Recall why so many railways were built at once.
- Recall. Many companies raised money from shareholders and Parliament approved many railway bills.shareholders; bills
- Link to the source. Source B is one such company asking for shareholders.Source B
- Write the answer. Accept any answer that names investment by shareholders, Parliament passing railway bills, or demand for coal and goods.
Check. Check fact: the Railway Mania years are usually given as the mid-1840s.
Method. Recall the disease linked to dirty water.
- Recall. Cholera spread through contaminated water in towns in the 1840s and 1850s.cholera
- Write the answer. cholera
Check. Check fact: confirm the outbreak years in your textbook.
Method. Scan Source A for coal.
- Scan. The letter says the company promises coal and cheaper bread.coal
- Write the answer. yes
Check. It is a promise, not a fact, but the word is there.
Method. Scan Source A for illness.
- Scan. The letter mentions fear and delight, but no illness or disease.no illness
- Write the answer. no
Check. Illness is mentioned only in Source C.
Method. Compare the two sources on housing.
- Source C. The new cottages beside the line have no drains.no drains
- Source D. Many labourers’ families remained in poor housing near the line.poor housing
- Decide. Both describe poor housing near the line, so they agree.yes
- Write the answer. yes
Check. Agreement between two different types of source is corroboration.
Method. Scan Source B for a fare.
- Scan. It gives third-class fares from 2 pence a mile.fares
- Write the answer. yes
Check. The fare is the company’s own figure.
Method. Check whether Source C says who gained.
- Check. Source C says coal is cheaper and the mill is busy, but it does not say who gained.does not say who gained
- Decide. So Source C does not support the claim.no
- Write the answer. no
Check. Silence in one source is not agreement or disagreement with another.
Method. Think about what would show who gained from the railway.
- Think. Profits would show up in account books and wages records.account books, wages
- Decide. So a historian would look for these primary records.primary evidence
- Write the answer. Accept any answer that asks for evidence from account books, wages records or the owners’ own papers.
Check. A secondary claim needs primary evidence to be checked.
Method. Think about how people lived in crowded towns.
- Recall. Many people lived close together, and drains and clean water were often poor.overcrowding, poor drains
- Link to the source. Source C shows the same problem: cottages with no drains.Source C
- Write the answer. Accept any answer that mentions overcrowding, poor drains or dirty water.
Check. Check fact: confirm the details in your textbook.
Method. Recall the first Public Health Act.
- Recall. The first Public Health Act in Britain was passed in 1848.1848
- Write the answer. 1848
Check. Check fact: confirm the year in your textbook.
Method. Compare the two dates.
- Find the dates. Source A is dated 1852 and Source C is dated 1854.1852 and 1854
- Compare. The earlier date belongs to Source A.A
- Write the answer. A
Check. Source B (1851) is earlier than both.
Method. Recall the word for agreement between sources.
- Recall. Checking one source against another for agreement is corroboration.corroboration
- Write the answer. corroboration
Check. Cross-referencing is the same idea.
Method. Take one point from each source, then join them.
- Source A. The letter shows mixed feelings: delight and doubts about the railway.delight and doubts
- Source C. The report shows poor drains and a cough among children.drains and health
- Join. Together they show the railway was welcome, but its benefits and costs were uneven.benefits and costs
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that uses one point from each: Source A (pleasure and doubts about the railway) and Source C (poor drains and health).
Check. A fuller picture uses two points from different sources.
Chapter summary
| Skill | Method |
|---|---|
| Identify a source | Name the type (written, visual, oral, artefact) and say primary or secondary |
| Use provenance | Who made it, when, why and for whom |
| Read content and tone | Say what it says; find a word that shows the tone; quote exactly |
| Judge utility | Name the enquiry; weigh origin, purpose, content and limits; give a judgement |
| Use own knowledge | Name one accurate fact and link it to the source in one sentence |
| Cross-refer | Check whether two sources agree or disagree, and why |
Can you…?
- I can name the type of a source and say whether it is primary or secondary.
- I can explain the provenance of a source: who, when, why and for whom.
- I can quote a source exactly and name its tone and purpose.
- I can judge utility for a stated enquiry, with a reason and a limit.
- I can use one accurate fact of my own knowledge to explain a source.
- I can compare two sources and say where they agree.
Key terms
- primary source
- a source made at the time, by someone who saw or took part
- secondary source
- a source written later, often by a historian using other evidence
- provenance
- the origin of a source: who made it, when, why and for whom
- utility
- how useful a source is for a particular enquiry
- tone
- the feeling or attitude in the words of a source
- purpose
- the reason an author made a source
- bias
- a leaning towards one view, which shows what the author wanted people to think
- corroboration
- checking one source against another to see whether they agree
- artefact
- an object from the past, such as a tool, a ticket or a piece of clothing
Exercise 1Z Check-up
Method. It was made at the time.
- Check the date. It is dated 1851, at the time of the railway.1851
- Decide. So it is primary.primary
- Write the answer. primary
Check. It is first-hand evidence.
Method. Recall the word.
- Recall. The origin of a source is its provenance.provenance
- Write the answer. provenance
Check. Provenance is checked before judging utility.
Method. Look for the source with a count of children.
- Find the count. Source C says nineteen of forty-two children had a persistent cough.nineteen of forty-two
- Write the answer. C
Check. No other source gives this count.
Method. Find the sentence about the doubts.
- Find the sentence. The letter says “I shall keep them to myself”.keep them to himself
- Write the answer. keep them to himself
Check. Thomas keeps his opinion private.
Method. Look for a timetable.
- Find the time. Source B says trains leave every morning at seven.seven
- Write the answer. B
Check. Source B is the only source with a timetable.
Method. Look at the words about drains and coughs.
- Find the evidence. The words are “no drains” and “persistent cough”.no drains; cough
- Name the tone. These words show concern.worried
- Write the answer. worried
Check. The doctor is concerned, not pleased.
Method. A photograph is something we look at.
- Name the type. A photograph is a visual source.visual
- Write the answer. visual
Check. Photographs are visual sources even when dated.
Method. Recall the name for the boom of the 1840s.
- Recall. The 1840s railway boom is called Railway Mania.Railway Mania
- Write the answer. Mania
Check. Check fact: the years of the boom are in your textbook.
Method. Scan Source B for fares.
- Scan. It says third-class fares from 2 pence a mile.fares
- Write the answer. yes
Check. The fare is given as a rate per mile.
Method. Think about how purpose shapes content.
- Think. A source written to persuade chooses its words to convince, so its content can be biased.persuade: bias
- Link. Knowing the purpose tells the historian what to trust, and for what.trust, for what
- Write the answer. Accept any reason: a source written to persuade may be biased, or a private letter may be more honest than a public one.
Check. Purpose is part of the provenance and affects utility.
Total 27 marks. Allow about 27 minutes.
Exercise 1X Exam-style questions
Method. It was made at the time by someone who saw the events.
- Check the date and author. Written in 1852 by a stationmaster who saw the engine.first-hand, 1852
- Write the answer. primary
Check. Mark totals and wording: check board.
Method. Recall the disease linked to dirty water in towns.
- Recall. Cholera spread through contaminated water in British towns in these years.cholera
- Write the answer. cholera
Check. Check fact: confirm the years in your textbook.
Method. Think about what the fare is evidence of.
- Origin. It is a handbill from 1851, so the fare is a real price from the time.actual fare, 1851
- Strength. It gives a specific price, which the enquiry needs.specific price
- Write the answer. Accept any answer that says it gives an actual fare from the period.
Check. A strength names what the source gives the enquiry.
Method. Subtract the number with a cough from the total examined.
- Subtract. The total examined is forty-two and nineteen had a cough.42 - 19 = 23
- Write the answer. 23
Check. 19 + 23 = 42.
Method. Think about whether the claim can be checked yet.
- Check the tense. The company says the change will happen within a year, which is in the future.within a year
- Decide. A claim about the future is a prediction.prediction
- Write the answer. prediction
Check. The company’s prediction can later be checked against evidence.
Method. Find the feeling and say what it shows.
- Find the feeling. The word “frightened” shows nervousness.frightened
- Explain. It is one personal view, so it shows how one man felt, not the whole village.one personal view
- Write the answer. Accept any answer that says the writer was nervous or uneasy about the railway, and that this is one personal view.
Check. Explaining needs the feeling and a limit on what it shows.
Method. Give the origin, the purpose and one use.
- Origin. A parish doctor wrote an official report in 1854 for the council.official report, 1854
- Purpose and use. It aims to make the council act; it is evidence that drains were missing.evidence of drains
- Write the answer. Accept any answer that names an official report for the council and says it gives evidence of drainage problems.
Check. Origin, purpose and use: three parts.
Method. State the purpose, then the limit.
- Purpose. The handbill was made to attract investors, so it promises a return.attract investors
- Limit. It says nothing about accidents or safety, so it cannot answer a safety question.no safety evidence
- Write the answer. Accept any answer that says the purpose is to attract investors, and that it gives no safety or accident evidence.
Check. A purpose answer names the audience and the aim.
Method. Compare the content, then the origin.
- Agreement. Both describe poor conditions near the line: no drains, and poor housing.poor conditions
- Difference. Source X is first-hand from 1854; Source Y is a 2015 interpretation about who gained.first-hand vs interpretation
- Write the answer. Accept any answer that gives one shared point (both describe poor conditions near the line) and one difference (Source X is first-hand evidence about health, Source Y a later interpretation about who gained).
Check. Source Y’s housing point is in its text: poor housing near the line.
Method. Weigh each source against the enquiry, then judge.
- Source 1. A first-hand private letter: useful for feelings, but one person and no figures.feelings; one view
- Source 2. An official, first-hand report: useful for health, but it covers one month and one village.health; limited sample
- Judge. Together they are useful for the effects on daily life; neither is enough alone.balanced conclusion
- Write the answer. Accept any answer that makes a balanced judgement, uses origin, content and at least one limit for each source, and reaches a conclusion.
Check. Mark totals and mark scheme: check board.