SBQ SKILLS –

UTILITY

Usefulness of a source…

O In History, we use sources to study about past events. Sources provide useful information.

O But no one source is perfect in telling us EVERYTHING about the event.

O So, the source will be useful but also have limitations

O Useful because it tells us one part O Limitations because it does not tell us the other part

How do we know whether the source

information is useful / limited?

O By checking with what we have studied in our textbook which is also known as

Contextual Knowledge

How useful is chocolate in making brownies?

O Chocolate is useful because it forms one part of the recipe.

O But it has limitations because we need more ingredients to form the other part of the recipe.

O How do we know this Contextual Knowledge (what we have read in recipe books)

Coming back to History…

How useful is a source in telling us about an event?

Other ways of phrasing the question:OIs the source useful in telling us about an event?

Para 1: The source is useful in telling me [insert question]. But it has limitations.

Para 2: The source is useful because it tells me one [insert factor] This is evident from [quote evidence from source]. This is supported by CROSS-REFERENCING to contextual knowledge which tells us that _______________.

Para 3:However, the source has limitations because it does not tell me other [insert factor].This is supported by CROSS REFERENCING to contextual knowledge which tells us that __________.

How useful is the source in telling us about

achievements of the Chinese?

Source A: An extract on inventions in ancient China

Many of the world’s most important inventions came from China. By the time the invention of paper passed to Western Asia and Europe in the 8th century CE, the Chinese had developed printing. Such inventions brought reading and writing to ordinary people.

The source is useful in telling us about the achievements of the Chinese. However it has its limitations.

The source is useful in telling us about one achievements of the Chinese such as the invention of printing. This is evident from source which says “by the time the invention of paper passed to Western Asia…the Chinese had developed printing.” This is supported by cross-referencing to contextual knowledge which tells us that the Chinese were the ones who invented printing which was then known as block printing and movable type.

However, the source has its limitations because it does not tell us other achievements of the Chinese such as the invention of pottery. This is supported by cross-referencing to contextual knowledge which tells us that the Chinese used unique techniques to produce pottery and porcelain of very high quality.

Let’s practise the skills now!

Turn to workbook pg. 73