Source Analysis Ocmapru

Year 9 History
A guide to Source Analysis
SOURCE ANALYSIS STRUCTURE

Acronym Origin Initial questions you should ask of the source Who made the source? When was it made? Where was it made? Is it primary or secondary? Type of source letter, photo, cartoon etc. Intentional content what information does the source give you? Secondary questions you should ask of the source

Was the maker a participant or observer? What was his/her role? Is he/she an expert?
Content
What is the point of view of the maker of the source? Is the content biased? If so, is it intentional?
SOURCE ANALYSIS STRUCTURE
TIPS TO ENHANCE YOUR RESPONSE

Usefulness
is DIFFERENT from reliability. A source can be extremely biased, like a propaganda poster, BUT still quite useful as it shows the methods used by political parties at the time to encourage people to vote for that particular party. It is rare that a source is NEVER useful. You must acknowledge to what degree it is useful?
MODALITY: TO WHAT DEGREE
For example; How much do you understand so far of source analysis? Now place the answers in order from the student who understands the most to the least.
Every aspect
Not much
A little bit
Most of it
Nothing at About half all
MODALITY ANSWERS
Every aspect
About half
Not much
Most of it
A little bit
Nothing at all
SOURCE AND MODALITY

Sources
require modality, particularly when addressing usefulness and reliability. Words to use to qualify a response could include: - Reliability is somewhat diminished because., - The source is quite useful because - The reliability of the source is enhanced because The qualifier MUST match evidence in the source. You can not simply throw in a qualifier for good measure.
EXAMPLE 1: TABLEHOW USEFUL WOULD THIS SOURCE BE

FOR A HISTORIAN STUDYING THE REASONS FOR THE IMMIGRATION RESTRICTION ACT?
EXAMPLE 2: FILM DOCUMENTARY
Primary
or secondary? Why? To what degree would this source be useful to an historian studying the White Australia Policy?
EXAMPLE 3:
CARTOON
An illustration that appeared on the cover of the second issue of the Australian Womans Sphere, October 1900
Is this a primary or secondary source? 2. What perspective is it illustrating? 3. Who is the intended audience? 4. What is it trying to achieve? 5. How useful would it be to an historian studying the development of womens suffrage in Australia?
1.
ANALYSING A POLITICAL CARTOON EXAMPLE 1: SOURCE B
This cartoon was published in the Bulletin around the time of the introduction of the White Australia Policy
QUESTION
How does this source explain some aspect of the past
Person who studies the past
How useful is Source B to an historian studying the reasons behind the introduction of the White Australia Policy?
Gives content a timeframe
Verb
Content
Question: How useful is Source B to an historian studying the reasons behind the introduction of the White Australia Policy?
USEFULNESS
From the cartoon an historian could see that Australians believed immigration brought with it disease, job loss, crime, immorality and drugs. From the way the Chinese man is depicted, an historian can clearly see Australians looked down upon the Chinese and did not consider them human. Therefore restricting immigration under the White Australia Policy was needed and desired
INTRODUCTIONOUTLINE THE ORIGIN & PURPOSE OF THE SOURCE

OUTLINES YOUR POSITION OR VIEWPOINT IN RELATION TO THE QUESTION
Source B produced by the Bulletin is a primary source from around the time of the implementation of the White Australia Policy. The source is a political cartoon and its purpose was to convince white Australians that Australia was in danger from Asian nations. Source B is quite useful to an historian studying the reasons behind the introduction of the White Australia Policy. It suggests that Australia was in danger and hence policies were needed to protect the richness of the land. Despite being biased and exaggerated, the cartoon is very reliable because it greatly reflects what Australians felt about foreign races at the time.
Reference to Source, Origin, Primary/secondary, Type of source, Purpose, Direct link/answer to the question, Address reliability and bias, _____ = modality
PARAGRAPH 1CONTENT
BRIEFLY OUTLINE WHAT THE SOURCE IS ABOUT
The source shows a small boy, representing Australia, surrounded by three Asian nations (China, Japan and India). The cartoon is suggesting that Australia is under threat by these Asian nations. The cartoonist shows Description of the & this by making the boy, representing Australia, quite source what it small and also young, whilst making the three Asian represents figures large and somewhat threatening. The very large and comfortable chair represents the richness and size of Australia. This is what the cartoonist is suggesting the Asian nations are really after.
Reference to Source, Origin, Primary/secondary, Type of source, Purpose, Direct link/answer to the question, Address reliability and bias, Perspective, _____ = modality
PARAGRAPH 2USEFULNESS
WHAT DOES THE SOURCE TEACH AN HISTORIAN ABOUT WHY THE WAP
WAS INTRODUCED?
The source is useful to an historian studying the reasons behind the introduction of the White Australia Policy. The source does not paint a very flattering picture of foreigners and seems to suggest that these people should be feared. Furthermore, the cartoon is implying they are a real threat to Australia because they are looking at Australia's wealth with an intention to take it. If many people held these views, it is easy to see why the White Australia Policy was introduced.
PARAGRAPH 3RELIABILITY
BOTH STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE SOURCE
Source B is also very reliable to an historian. Although the source only shows us the cartoonists opinion, the Bulletin would not have published such a racist cartoon if it did not reflect and represent the opinions of many Australians. Furthermore, the biased nature of the cartoon, especially in the way the Asian nations are depicted, only makes the source more reliable because the extent of the prejudice in Australia is made more clear.
CONCLUSION FINISH WITH A BRIEF STATEMENT THAT WRAPS UP

YOUR THEORY ABOUT THE SOURCE.
Obviously Source B allows an historian to see that many people in Australia felt that the Asian nations that surrounded Australia were a threat. It therefore gives clear reasons as to why White Australia Policy was introduced.

Source Analysis Ocmapru

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Source Analysis Ocmapru

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Year 9 History

A guide to Source Analysis

SOURCE ANALYSIS STRUCTURE

SOURCE ANALYSIS STRUCTURE

TIPS TO ENHANCE YOUR RESPONSE

MODALITY: TO WHAT DEGREE

Nothing at About half all

SOURCE AND MODALITY

EXAMPLE 1: TABLEHOW USEFUL WOULD THIS SOURCE BE

EXAMPLE 2: FILM DOCUMENTARY

ANALYSING A POLITICAL CARTOON EXAMPLE 1: SOURCE B

Person who studies the past

Gives content a timeframe

INTRODUCTIONOUTLINE THE ORIGIN & PURPOSE OF THE SOURCE

CONCLUSION FINISH WITH A BRIEF STATEMENT THAT WRAPS UP

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