1. Nature-Author-Content-Happening-Omitted-Special Reason
Judging Usefulness with Nachos
Nature-Author-Content-Happening-Omitted-Special Reason
SPECIAL REASON is about motive or why has the source been created. Is there any reason the author may have exaggerated or lied?
The reason this source was produced was to…
NATURE This means source type. EG: Letter, speech, diary, book, poster, newspaper report.
The source is a….
This makes it useful as…
However we also need to consider…
‘Africans are nothing but brutes, and they will love you better for whipping, whether they deserve it or not’
A plantation owner in the 19th Century describing how he treats his slaves.
OMITTEDis about limitations of the source. Has something been deliberately left out or hidden?
The source is limited as it is (What does the Source Not tell you)
AUTHOR This is the ‘who’ and‘ when’. Are they an expert? Is it a primary eye witness or secondary information?.
It was produced by…
This makes it useful as…
However we need to consider that…
HAPPENING This is about context. What was happening at the time? Does the source support your own knowledge or not?
From my own knowledge of this period I know that…
Therefore the source supports/does not support my own knowledge.
Source A a cartoon entitled ‘Blind-Mans Buff’ criticizing the police published in Punch magazine 1888.
CONTENT This means what it tells us. Does it contain important info, is it factual, opinion or biased?
The source tells us that…

2. Judging Usefulness with Cops Content-Own Knowledge-Purpose
PURPOSE What kind of source is it? Why was it made? Who made it?
The source is a…
This makes it more/less useful because…
The purpose of the source is…
The reason this source was produced was to…
We therefore need to consider that…
CONTENT This means what it tells us. Does it contain important info, is it factual, opinion or biased?
The source tells us that…
‘Africans are nothing but brutes, and they will love you better for whipping, whether they deserve it or not’
A plantation owner in the 19th Century describing how he treats his slaves.
OWN KNOWLEDGE Use your own knowledge to explain why the source is/n’t accurate.
From my own knowledge of this period I know that…
Therefore the source supports/does not support my own knowledge.