Source Skills

Understanding the Nature of Sources

• Identify the type of source (primary, secondary, written, visual, etc.)
• Determine the origin, purpose, and context of the source
• Assess the reliability, usefulness, and limitations of the source

Interpreting Sources

• Analyze the content, language, and message of the source
• Identify the perspectives and biases present in the source
• Consider how the source relates to the historical topic or question

Corroborating Sources

• Compare and contrast multiple sources on the same topic
• Identify similarities, differences, and contradictions between sources
• Use evidence from multiple sources to support historical arguments

Recognizing the Limitations of Sources

• Acknowledge the gaps, silences, and missing information in sources
• Understand how sources can be incomplete or selective in their portrayal of events
• Recognize the influence of the historian's own biases and preconceptions