limitations usefulness

Question 1

photograph usefulness

Answer 1

• visual representation of a scene or person
• gives details of lifestyle of people
• you can decide who the photographer was and their bias
  -you can tell when and why it was taken

Question 2

photograph limitations

Answer 2

• doesn’t give complete picture (narrow image)
• needs to be cross referenced
• you can’t tell if the photo has been altered to offer other perspectives

Question 3

poster usefulness

Answer 3

• gives information as to the underlying message (propaganda) and bias of the time
• one can get an impression of the type of propaganda at the time and the type of society it was trying to appeal to

Question 4

poster limitations

Answer 4

• may be an exaggeration/distortion/misleading claim
• certain points may be omitted

Question 5

cartoon usefulness

Answer 5

• similar to a poster
• gives information/ opinion of a particular person/place/issue at the time and where it was published
• can tell where it appeared

Question 6

cartoon limitations

Answer 6

• similar to a poster
• it appeals to emotion and echo the creator’s bias
• could be misleading

Question 7

literature usefulness

Answer 7

• identifies the background to the event, viewpoint of the author, and motive for publication

Question 8

literature limitation

Answer 8

• facts may be distorted for the sake of the story
• the author has bias which needs to be identified

Question 9

diary/letter usefulness

Answer 9

• gives a person’s viewpoint, emotion, feelings and attitudes
• if written at the time it may give immediacy to the event being described

Question 10

diary/letter limitations

Answer 10

• author’s viewpoint and may be coloured according to his/her bias.
• may have been written long after the event in which case there may be omissions or exaggerations.
• It may need to be balanced alongside other evidence.

Question 11

speech usefulness

Answer 11

• person’s viewpoint
• could echo official position
• the bias may be useful in determining the situation at the time and the motive of the person
• can determine type of audience

Question 12

speech limitations

Answer 12

• usefulness can be limited because of purpose, motive and intended audience in the period it was given
• be aware of language used
• does it have an intended purpose?

Question 13

diplomatic document usefulness

Answer 13

• official viewpoint
• may give clues to an official position, the situation at the time and the intended action

Question 14

diplomatic document limitations

Answer 14

• similar to a speech w/o emotive language
• be aware of the content
• was there need for a particular outcome

Question 15

press usefulness

Answer 15

• provides information as to a given situation or opinions at the time
• could give clues to the necessities of the time, such as a need to manipulate reader opinions (fake news)
• caption can give details to the bias of the author

Question 16

press limitations

Answer 16

• can be inaccurate
• the author’s bias may be misleading and may need to be cross referenced
• could be part of propaganda, the necessities of the time including censorship and the need to manipulate the reader can lead to misinterpretation

Question 17

drawing/artwork/music usefulness

Answer 17

• similar to cartoons without overt message
• provide information of a given place/ period
• need to be analysed for symbolism, characterisation, images, lyrics, captions
• style of art may be indicative of society at the time

Question 18

drawing/artwork/music limitations

Answer 18

• depends on the purpose of the artist, intended audience, bias, propaganda, the style at the time (is it truly representative?)
• watch out for inaccuracies intended to satisfy a particular audience

Question 19

map usefulness

Answer 19

• gives information and shows features of a particular place at a particular time

Question 20

map limitations

Answer 20

• may not tell you all you need to know
• could be dated, showing stuff that doesn’t exist at the present time

Question 21

statistics usefulness

Answer 21

• gives information, e.g. population figures, industrial production etc.

Question 22

statistics limitations

Answer 22

• data might be omitted, falsified or randomly selected
• specific information may not be given
• the size of the same may be too narrow
• needs to be cross referenced
• the purpose of the compiler may need examination

Question 23

interviews/memoirs usefulness

Answer 23

same as speech or diary usefulness

Question 24

interviews/memoirs limitations

Answer 24

same as speech or diary limitations

Question 25

historians (secondary source) usefulness

Answer 25

• gathers information from a number of sources in presenting a description of people, places and events

Question 26

historians (secondary source) limitations

Answer 26

• The author has their bias.
• They may not have chosen texts that disagree with his/her bias.
• Take into account the year of publication (opinions may have become outdate due to subsequent information becoming available). - Also be aware of the intended audience (academics, children, culture, gender, etc.).