How do you assess the provenance in a source based essay for A Level History?

Firstly, you should often begin with highlighting what the question is actually asking you and making sure to contain the key phrases or terms in your answer. This will also help tremendously to keep on track throughout your essay and consistently refer back to the question. Secondly, you should then start by looking at the provenance of the source (e.g. who is speaking? what was their role at the time? where does the source come from?). Typically, the question will ask you to assess the value of the source in relation to the topic area, therefore, it is important that you link the value to provenance in your answer (and the same principle applies if the question is asking you to assess relevance, validity and so on.)By demonstration, if we were to look at an AQA question 'With reference to these sources and your understanding of the historical context, assess the value of these three sources to an historian studying Britain’s invasion of Iraq in 2003.', it might be that for example, Source A is an primary source extract from prime minister Tony Blair's speeches during this period. We would begin by talking about how 'Source A adds value in the context of Britain's invasion of Iraq...' due to the fact that Blair was the prime minister in 2003 - a reputable position - therefore he would have known the legitimate reasons for the invasion, the lead behind the invasion, knew confidential information, etc. In this case, it is obvious Source A holds great value and a specific reason for this being that the speaker is the prime minister himself, talking at a time when the Iraq war in 2003 was being protested against for example. The assessment of provenance and where you will gain marks is in how it relates to the question, though the provenance is a good way to start writing your answer.