Understanding, Explaining, and Evaluating sources

Understanding sources If you can accurately summarize a source, then you understand the source Summaries can be wrong! P and O of POVL also show understanding Not a place for your analysis or interpretation

Explaining importance Comes after you understand the source You must have knowledge of historical context to grasp importance

Explaining cont. Every primary source is important, BUT some are more important than others There are MANY UNimportant secondary sources: Common knowledge sources = generic MOST history Internet sites No analysis/historical argument = NOT important New to you ≠ important (don’t be fooled!)

Evaluating sources Evaluate = weigh strengths and weaknesses (i.e. value and limitation) ALL important sources have both value and limitation Must evaluate value and limitation as directly connected to purpose and origin Important sources may not be valuable to your investigation