How do I approach a question which asks me to write about visual sources? (Pictures, floorplans, maps etc.)

My most important piece of advice is not to be afraid of describing what you see. Refer to particular features which seem distinctive and relevant to the question even if they seem obvious. This will show that you have a real understanding of the image. Don’t jump to conclusions; support them with evidence from the source. This is particularly important when the image is familiar to you and deductions seem obvious. The question will be asking something broader but inviting you to use this particular image in your discussion. Contextualise the source with your own knowledge. There may not be a date alongside the source but think about whether you have seen anything similar. If so then mention it as a point of comparison. If it seems relevant to the question, you could evaluate the source itself as you would a textual source. Think about possible bias and context. 

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Answered by Lydia A. Classical Civilisation tutor

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