1.
A Model Writing Structure:
60 Words on Perspective
90 Words on Reliability
60 Words on Usefulness
How Useful is Source A to a historian studying…in your
answer consider the perspective and reliability of the
source.
Affectionately known as PRU
2.
Perspective: “A way of regarding situations or topics”
Synonyms: position, view
In considering Perspective you need to consider how a
source views the topic the historian is studying.
You also need to consider why the source has that
Perspective. What factors make the producer of the source
see the topic under study in that way.
Address the issue of Perspective in about 60 words.
Perspective
3.
Source A: Yorkshire Mine Worker 1832
“Each day was a living hell, 14 hours spent under
ground, working to exhaustion for hardly enough to
put bread on the table”
What is Source A’s Perspective on the impact of the
Industrial Revolution on the people of Britain?
Why does Source have this Perspective?
Perspective
4.
Source B: The Rising Standard of Living in England
1800 – 1850, RM Hartwell 1961
“the standard of living of the mass of people of England
was improving…more quickly after 1815 and rapidly
after 1840”
What is Source B’s Perspective on the impact of the
Industrial Revolution on the people of Britain?
Why does Source have this Perspective?
Perspective
5.
Reliability: “The quality of being dependable or
reliable”
Use a range of criteria to consider if the source is Reliable.
Ideally you will find that in some ways the source is reliable and in
some ways it is not so reliable (and vice versa).
Showing that you are thinking deeply about the reliability of the
source is your goal, so seeing different ways in which the source is
reliable or not so is a positive.
BUT…come down on one side…the source is some degree of reliable
or unreliable.
Address reliability in about 90 words
Reliability
7.
Origin (author)
Who produced the source and what makes them
someone you would trust?
Can draw any sound conclusions about way they might
be a reliable author or not?
Reliability
8.
Motive
Why was the source produced?
How does that motive impact on the reliability of the
source?
Reliability
9.
Audience
Who was the source produced for?
How does this impact on the reliability of the source?
Reliability
10.
Date
When was the source produced?
How does this impact on the reliability of the source?
Reliability
11.
Bias
Is there any obvious (subtle or overt) bias in the source?
How does this impact on the reliability of the source?
Reliability
12.
What Makes a Source Useful?
1. It’s perspective. History is a continual search for
some form of truth and understanding. Having
different perspectives on a topic being studied assists in
this search. This search takes the form of an ongoing
debate about events. We all approach events based on
our way of seeing the world. This provides us our
perspective. Good historians embrace different
perspective to help them better understand what they
are studying.
Usefulness
13.
2. A source is of greater use if it can be determined that
it is reliable.
3. A source is reliable if it provides new information on
a topic a historian is studying.
4. A source is reliable if it provides information a
historian already knew. It verifies or confirms existing
knowledge
Usefulness
14.
5. A source is often more useful if it can be used
together with a few other sources.
Usefulness (60 words)
1. Useful because of Perspective
2. Useful because reliable
3. Useful because of content
4. But would benefit if used with another source or
two (name the ones you would like to have)
Usefulness
15.
Perspective (60): What and why
Reliability (90): How reliable – 3/4 criteria
Usefulness (60): Perspective
Reliability
Content
Other source
PRU
16.
USE THE KEY WORDS
PERPECTIVE RELIABLE USEFUL
REFER TO THE TOPIC WHICH IS BEING STUDIED
BIG TIPS
