T1M4 Skills Focus

Question 1

What are the types of sources?

Answer 1

Primary, secondary and tertiary.

Question 2

Name 3 examples of primary sources.

Answer 2

Letters.
Manuscripts.
Diaries.

Question 3

Name 3 examples of secondary sources.

Answer 3

Histories.
Criticisms.
Reviews.

Question 4

Name 3 examples of tertiary sources.

Answer 4

Dictionaries/encyclopaedias (may also be secondary).
Bibliographies (may also be secondary).
Directories.

Question 5

What are the values of a primary source?

Answer 5

• come from the actual time that is being studied.
• give us access to information about ordinary people’s lives/ attitudes.
• can give a more personal version of the past

Question 6

What are the values of a secondary source?

Answer 6

• can be objective and give balanced accounts.
• have the benefit of hindsight.
• can give thorough analyses, as they draw on large amounts of evidence.

Question 7

What are the values of a tertiary source?

Answer 7

• offer a quick, easy introduction to historical events and topics.
• may point to high-quality primary and secondary sources.

Question 8

What are the limitations of a primary source?

Answer 8

• can be broken or damaged.
• reflects only an immediate response from the time.
• may be very one-sided.

Question 9

What are the limitations of a secondary source?

Answer 9

• can be one-sided (bias).
• can reflect the point of view of the writer.
• seldom show the emotional impact of the events on people’s lives.

Question 10

What are the limitations of a tertiary source?

Answer 10

• may oversimplify or otherwise distort a topic.