Evaluating Source Reliability and Usefulness

What is the first step you should take when answering a source question about reliability, value, or usefulness?

• Write a detailed plan for your answer.

• Look at the source and ensure you understand what it's telling you.

• Compare the source with other sources.

• Decide which source is more useful.

When considering the reliability of a source, which of the following should you pay close attention to?

• The length of the source.

• The font used in the source.

• Who created the source, when it was created, and why it was created.

• The colour scheme of the source.

Why is it important to consider the origin of a source?

• It helps you understand the historical context of the source.

• It tells you the exact number of words in the source.

• It provides a summary of the source's content.

• It indicates the source's popularity.

What should you consider about a source created by an individual involved in an event?

• Whether they used a typewriter or a computer.

• Their personal experience and how it might affect their interpretation.

• The number of pages in the source.

• The colour of ink used in the source.

What is a key consideration when evaluating the usefulness of a source?

• The source's length.

• The source's usefulness to who and for what purpose.

• The source's publication date.

• The source's language.

How should you judge the usefulness and value of a source?

• By the number of references it contains.

• In terms of the question it is being used to answer.

• By the number of authors who contributed to it.

• By the number of times it has been cited.

What is a common feature of contemporary sources?

• They are always unbiased.

• They are created at the time of the event.

• They are written in a foreign language.

• They are always written by historians.

What should you do if a source is biased?

• Disregard it completely.

• Identify the bias and consider what factual information it still provides.

• Assume it is entirely false.

• Use it as the sole basis for your argument.

What is the final step in evaluating the usefulness or value of a source?

• Writing a summary of the source.

• Reaching a firm conclusion on how useful or valuable the source is.

• Counting the number of pages in the source.

• Checking the source's publication date.

What is an important factor to consider when determining the bias of a source?

• The color of the cover page.

• The number of pages in the source.

• The author's background and perspective.

• The font size used in the source.