preparing for source-based assessmentsGlobal Studies 10

Mr. Allan

Origin

Date: What if there are conflicting dates? (date of the event, i.e., 1857; date its description was first written down, i.e., 1868; and date the of the publication of the written document, i.e., 2008?)

What if the source is a diary that is published online at www.cooldiaries.com? Do you cite the diary or the website?

What if the author cannot be clearly identified?

What if there is no date?

Purpose

how do you assess the author’s or source’s purpose?

Here are some helpful hints. Use:

Clues in the caption: “M. Gandhi, A speech given to the people of Delhi explaining the goals of the Salt March, 1931.”

in-text clues (tone; language; argument; direct reference to the intended audience, etc).

Values

What can we learn about the event through this source?

What can we learn from the intentions of the historical actors?

What can we learn from the source about the climate or atmosphere of the times and what people were thinking?

If it is a secondary source, what can we learn about how others viewed the event?

Limitations

What does the source leave unsaid?

Whose voices are not heard?

What culture/viewpoint/biases does the author have?

How well-researched and credible is the source?

To what extent is the author in a position to know or be an expert on this event?

And now, some practice -- visual sources

What message is conveyed by the following source?

Punch Magazine (UK), 5 September 1857.

What message is conveyed by the following source?

Punch Magazine (UK), 22 August 1857.

What message is conveyed by the following source?

British man gets a pedicure from an Indian servant. Date unknown.

What message is conveyed by the following source?

The Imperial Airways 'Hanno' Hadley Page passenger airplane carries the England to India air mail, stopping in Sharjah to refuel (c. 1930)