How do I respond to a source based question?

It is important firstly to remember not to take a source at face value. As a historian you want to take a step back and consider the wider picture and where this source sits in historiography. There are three main elements that need to be investigated when approaching this type of question. Firstly look at the origin of the source - what is it? Who is it produced by? Who is it produced for? When was it produced? What is the intended purpose of the source? At this point, you should be considering the significance of these points. Then it is important to look at the content and context. What does the source actually say and what does this mean? How does this relate to the topic being explored? Explore the fabric around the document and find out where it sits in history. What else is going on in this period that can relate to it? The final element to analyse is the significance of the source. What does historiography argue? What have historians contributed to this? Is there a particular historiographical debate around the source, if so flag it up. The main points to remember when analysing a source is to stay focused on the document, don't stray too far. Be critical in all aspects and ask yourself what does it mean? Bring in your own conclusion.