Analysing Sources in the Core O – ORIGIN C – CONTENT M – MOTIVE A –AUDIENCE P – PERSPECTIVE R – RELIABILITY U – USEFULNESS

Analysing Sources in the Core ACRONYM PRIMARY QUESTIONS you should ask of the source SECONDARY QUESTIONS you should ask of the source O r i g n Who made the source? When was it made? Where was it made? Was the maker an observer or participant? What was his or her role? Is he or she an expert? Is bias likely? Is the bias deliberate or unintentional? Was it made during or after the event? How significant is the delay in time?

Analysing Sources in the Core ACRONYM PRIMARY QUESTIONS you should ask of the source SECONDARY QUESTIONS you should ask of the source C o n t e Primary or secondary? (Does this matter? Why?) Type of source? Intentional content? Is there unintentional or implied content? What is the point of view of the source’s creator? Is there obvious bias? Why?

Analysing Sources in the Core ACRONYM PRIMARY QUESTIONS you should ask of the source SECONDARY QUESTIONS you should ask of the source M o t i v e Why was the source made - what was its purpose? How does the medium or format of the source indicate purpose and/or bias? Was it to: persuade, inform, condemn, express emotions/feelings, educate, entertain, express an opinion? What language and/or images are used? Is it humourous, extravagant, emotive, logical, matter-of-fact, balanced, descriptive, etc?

Analysing Sources in the Core ACRONYM PRIMARY QUESTIONS you should ask of the source SECONDARY QUESTIONS you should ask of the source A u d i e n c For whom was the source made? Was it a private document or was it meant for publication – how do you know? Was it meant for an individual, a small group of experts or a wide audience?

Analysing Sources in the Core ACRONYM PRIMARY QUESTIONS you should ask of the source SECONDARY QUESTIONS you should ask of the source P e r s p c t i v Using the information on who made the source and why… Consider the position of the creator and their perspective… Does it represent a particular country’s position? A group’s position? An individual’s position? How do we know? Consider language, bias, etc…

Analysing Sources in the Core ACRONYM PRIMARY QUESTIONS you should ask of the source SECONDARY QUESTIONS you should ask of the source R e l i a b t y Is the source complete or incomplete? Do other (easily located or famous) sources corroborate or support it? For what purposes is the source reliable? For what purposes is the source unreliable? In what ways is the source limited? Does it lack detail, clarity or understanding? Does it portray a narrow or limited point of view? In what ways is it biased? Is it propaganda or can it be used in that way? Do any other sources contradict it?

Analysing Sources in the Core ACRONYM PRIMARY QUESTIONS you should ask of the source SECONDARY QUESTIONS you should ask of the source U s e f u l n What does the source tell us? How can the source be used to explain some aspect of the past? REMEMBER: usefulness is different from reliability but is dependent on it.

Answering Part 2 of the Core You don’t necessarily need an introduction. PARAGRAPH 1 Begin with a POINT (P) that links your first source to the topic or question. ELABORATE/EXPLAIN (E) and give EXAMPLES (E) that are evident in the first source and relevant to the topic or question. LINK (L) your elaboration/explanation to the topic or question. PARAGRAPH 2 Begin with a POINT (P) that links your own knowledge to the topic or question. ELABORATE/EXPLAIN (E) and give EXAMPLES (E) from your own knowledge that are relevant to the topic or question. RELEVANT TO HSC PRE-2010 ONLY!

Answering Part 2 of the Core PARAGRAPH 3 Begin with a POINT (P) that links your second source to the topic or question. ELABORATE/EXPLAIN (E) and give EXAMPLES (E) that are evident in the second source and relevant to the topic or question. LINK (L) your elaboration/explanation to the topic or question. PARAGRAPH 4 Begin with a POINT (P) that links your own knowledge to the topic or question. ELABORATE/EXPLAIN (E) and give EXAMPLES (E) from your own knowledge that are relevant to the topic or question. REMEMBER TO P – E – E – L RELEVANT TO HSC PRE-2010 ONLY!

Answering Part 3 of the Core PARAGRAPH 1 (first source) Short paragraph that states authorship, primary/secondary, date & place of composition, medium/type, purpose & intended audience. (OCMA) Should be several sentences (3?) long. PARAGRAPH 2 (first source) Begin with general comments about the text, include some quotes, link it back to the key features of the topic. (OCMA) Comment about its perspective - including comments about its content, composer, purpose, quotes, etc. Link it back to the key features of the topic. (P) Discuss evidence of bias, using examples. Link it back to the key features of the topic. (R) Discuss what the source can and cannot be used for. (U) PARAGRAPHS 3 & 4 (second source) As for the first source.

Answering Essay-type Questions Introduction Point of view. Preview arguments. Link to the question. Body Paragraphs Begin with topic sentence that introduces a POINT (P) for discussion. ELABORATE/EXPLAIN (E) your point with EXAMPLES/ EVIDENCE (E) to back you up. LINK (L) your elaboration/explanation to the topic or question. That is: P – E – E – L Use as many as time allows or you need. Conclusion Summarise arguments. Link them as a group back to your point of view and the question.