source based question reliability. source-based questions when analysing sources, look at...

Source Based QuestionSource Based Question

ReliabilityReliability

Source-Based QuestionsSource-Based Questions

• When analysing sources, look at provenance, tone, purpose, content

• Be open-minded, sometimes ok to react to a cartoon, picture or text

• Skills – inferences, compare/contrast, reliability, cross-references, usefulness

Source-Based Questions Source-Based Questions

Inferencing, MUST: State your inference• Give evidence from the source• Explain the evidence• Link back to the question

ORCommon mistakes:• More than one inference• Evidence from source not related to inference• No explanation• No link

REMEMBERREMEMBER– primary sources (from the time) are immediate and primary sources (from the time) are immediate and

even eyewitness, but they may lack perspective/ even eyewitness, but they may lack perspective/ objectivity/ may be biased. Secondary sources objectivity/ may be biased. Secondary sources (written afterwards – eg textbooks) can be (written afterwards – eg textbooks) can be dispassionate and use a number of primary sources, dispassionate and use a number of primary sources, but they may be guilty of misinterpreting facts (until but they may be guilty of misinterpreting facts (until the 1960s, history books were often written to carry a the 1960s, history books were often written to carry a message – eg Marxist, Nazi)message – eg Marxist, Nazi)

– sometimes the question may ask you about the sometimes the question may ask you about the 'accuracy' of the source = reliability! 'accuracy' of the source = reliability!

Steps:Steps:

11stst - - Test the information/claims of the source against other Test the information/claims of the source against other sources and your own knowledge. Does it give the true sources and your own knowledge. Does it give the true facts facts andand feelings from the time – use your own feelings from the time – use your own knowledge. knowledge.

22ndnd - - Look at the provenance to establish Look at the provenance to establish context, origin context, origin and purpose and purpose – the situation in which it was written, who – the situation in which it was written, who wrote it, and whether it is one-sided/propaganda etc. wrote it, and whether it is one-sided/propaganda etc. Look at Look at sufficiencysufficiency – does it give the whole story – what – does it give the whole story – what has it missed? Relate what you are saying to the has it missed? Relate what you are saying to the specific context of the source - try to talk not only about specific context of the source - try to talk not only about generalities such as 'it may be biased', but about the generalities such as 'it may be biased', but about the specific situation (e.g. <N> would be biased because...')specific situation (e.g. <N> would be biased because...')

33rdrd - - Make sure you come to a CONCLUSION based on Make sure you come to a CONCLUSION based on facts.facts.

REMEMBER when answering:REMEMBER when answering:

ALWAYSALWAYS use a quote/ facts from use a quote/ facts from the Sources. the Sources.

ALWAYSALWAYS use your own knowledge/ use your own knowledge/ FACTS - esp. when it says ‘use FACTS - esp. when it says ‘use your your own knowledgeown knowledge’ ’

ATBQATBQ (= 'answer the bloody (= 'answer the bloody question')question')

Example 1Example 1

The principal has announced that the The principal has announced that the school did very well in the recently school did very well in the recently completed World Scholars Cup. They won completed World Scholars Cup. They won the first and third in both the senior and the first and third in both the senior and junior divisions.junior divisions.

Do you believe what you have just heard?Do you believe what you have just heard?


What are some of the questions you will ask to assess reliability?

Example 2Example 2

A salesman is selling vitamins in your school. A salesman is selling vitamins in your school. He claims that taking the vitamins will boost He claims that taking the vitamins will boost brain power and students who buy them will brain power and students who buy them will obtain good results in their examinations. He obtain good results in their examinations. He shows you a video testimony of 2 students shows you a video testimony of 2 students who took the vitamins before their PSLE and who took the vitamins before their PSLE and have gone to the top schools in Singapore.have gone to the top schools in Singapore.

Do you believe what you have just heard?Do you believe what you have just heard?


• Purpose is not simply bias, don’t just assert this is propaganda

• Purpose is not simply the message of the source

• Purpose is the result the author wishes to achieve through the message, impact of message on audience ie importance of audience

Example 3Example 3

Imagine that a Secondary 4 Geena has Imagine that a Secondary 4 Geena has accused her classmate Sheryl of bullying accused her classmate Sheryl of bullying her sister Shannon who is in Sec 1. Just last her sister Shannon who is in Sec 1. Just last week, Sheryl had defeated Geena in their week, Sheryl had defeated Geena in their schools annual Humanities Quiz.schools annual Humanities Quiz.

Do you believe Geena’s accusation?Do you believe Geena’s accusation?


Reliability:• Cross references – checking against other sources or our own knowledge

When to CR, ask:• Do we need to check?• What is it I want to check?• What is it I am checking against?

Avoid generalisations which omit one or more of the above. Need for specific details for proper CR to CK.

FactorFactor Question to ConsiderQuestion to Consider

Provenance Where does the source come from?Where does the source come from?

Who wrote/produced/ created it?Who wrote/produced/ created it?

When was it written/ produced/ created?When was it written/ produced/ created?

What is the background of the creator of the What is the background of the creator of the source?source?

Typicality Is this the only source with this point of Is this the only source with this point of view?view?

Content What does the source tell you?What does the source tell you?

What can you infer from the information in the What can you infer from the information in the source?source?

Does the source contain facts, opinions or Does the source contain facts, opinions or both?both?

Are there any inconsistencies in the source?Are there any inconsistencies in the source?

Purpose or/ Purpose or/ and Toneand Tone

Why was the source written/produced/ created – was it to express an opinion or influence or persuade the reader?

Is the source one-sided or does it present both sides of the argument?

Does the source contain exaggerated or loaded words or emotive images?

Does the source contain words that are meant to make you feel a particular way?

Other Other sources/ sources/

Contextual Contextual KnowledgeKnowledge

Do other sources or contextual knowledge agree with this source?

StepsSteps

Step 1Step 1Analyse the question and identify the issue/topic Analyse the question and identify the issue/topic asked?asked?

Step 2Step 2Study the Study the provenanceprovenance of the source – where it of the source – where it comes from, who the author is, etc. This helps to comes from, who the author is, etc. This helps to determine the credibility of the source.determine the credibility of the source.

Step 3Step 3Evaluate the Evaluate the contentcontent of the source – look out for of the source – look out for facts, opinions, claims, exaggeration, loaded facts, opinions, claims, exaggeration, loaded words, etc.words, etc.

StepsSteps

Step 4Step 4Examine the Examine the point of view and purposepoint of view and purpose of the author – is of the author – is he biased, does he want to influence the reader to agree he biased, does he want to influence the reader to agree with his point of view?with his point of view?

Step 5Step 5Compare the source in question to Compare the source in question to other sourcesother sources and/or and/or your own your own contextual knowledge contextual knowledge – what do the other – what do the other sources say, do they agree or disagree with what the sources say, do they agree or disagree with what the source says, or is the source consistent with contextual source says, or is the source consistent with contextual knowledge?knowledge?

Step 6Step 6 Weigh the evidence and make conclusions on the Weigh the evidence and make conclusions on the reliability of the source.reliability of the source.

How reliable is this photo in showing that the PAP lacked How reliable is this photo in showing that the PAP lacked support in 2006 elections?support in 2006 elections?

Practice 1Practice 1

Provenance – if the picture comes from a blogsite that Provenance – if the picture comes from a blogsite that is critical of the government, is it more or less is critical of the government, is it more or less reliable?reliable?

Typicality – “this is just one source, so I can’t believe Typicality – “this is just one source, so I can’t believe it”it”

Every source is just 1 source. Check if it is typical, can Every source is just 1 source. Check if it is typical, can we make a fair generalisation.we make a fair generalisation.

Source Type – “this source is reliable because it is a Source Type – “this source is reliable because it is a

photograph and photographs do not tell lies”photograph and photographs do not tell lies”

Is this true?Is this true?


Exercise:Exercise:

Look at the cartoon by Liu Kang, how Look at the cartoon by Liu Kang, how reliable is the cartoon in showing that the reliable is the cartoon in showing that the Japanese were ruthless during the Japanese were ruthless during the Japanese Occupation?Japanese Occupation?

Practice 2Practice 2

A cartoon by Singaporean artist, Liu Kang, who lived during the period of the Japanese Occupation.

Poser

If a source is one sided, is it unreliable?

The EndThe End

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