Historical skills · Both
Using Historical Sources
Source questions are not comprehension tests. You must use the content *and* the nature/origin of the source to make a historical point.
Inference
What can you work out that is not stated word-for-word?
Support with a short quote or close reference.
Say what the source **suggests** about attitudes, conditions or events.
Utility (how useful)
Useful for *what*? Always link to the enquiry in the question.
Consider:
• **Content** – what information it provides
• **Nature / origin** – who wrote it, when, why (purpose), audience
• **Context** – what you know that helps judge it
A biased source can still be useful for attitudes.
Worked example
Is a government poster useful for studying public opinion?
Solution: Limited for true opinion (it shows what the government *wanted* people to think) but useful for propaganda methods and official messages at the time.
Reliability
Not the same as utility. Reliability asks how far you can trust it for accuracy.
Purpose, audience and whether the author was in a position to know all matter.
Practice questions
1. What two aspects make a source useful?
2. Can a biased source still be useful?