How do I carry out a successful and effective primary source analysis?

To be successful and effective when carrying out a primary source analysis, you must first understand what a primary source actually is. In historic or literary terms, a primary source is a document or image created at the time period you are studying, for example in the 1930's if you are studying the origins of the Second World War. Therefore, you must make sure you answer three main questions by following three 'mini' subheadings, as follows: Nature - What is the nature of the source? (e.g. newspaper, diary, biography, political document, letter, photo) Origin - What is the origin of the source? (when was the source produced AND who produced it?) Purpose - Why was the source actually produced? Who was it produced for? Is it given a particular message to a particular audience (e.g. Hitler writing Mein Kampf to the nationalists of Germany to progagate them into voting him into his chancellorship in 1933). Although you may split the above into three body paragraphs, you may also consider 'pulling the source apart', in which you will chose a theme, such as antisemitism, and then pick a quote to support what you are saying. You should then follow the below structure to organise and reflect what you are trying to say: PEEL!

P - POINT E - EVIDENCE E - EXPLANATION L - LINK

TM
Answered by Thomas M. History tutor

2301 Views

See similar History GCSE tutors

Related History GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Briefly explain the Lena Goldfield Strike, 1912


What's your advice for approaching source questions in a GCSE history paper?


How can I structure my argument to get full marks in an 8 mark question?


In Stalin's Russia, how was propaganda and the purges used to strengthen his position?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning