Pearson Edexcel · GCSE · History
Course version: 1HI0 · Version from Sept 2016
The historic environment - 2 Knowledge, selection and use of sources for…
Full specification wording
Option 12: The historic environment - 2 Knowledge, selection and use of sources for historical enquiries: Selection of appropriate sources for specific investigations.
When conducting historical enquiries into the historic environment, selecting appropriate sources is crucial.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 1HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 5 of 5
- 3 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
When conducting historical enquiries into the historic environment, selecting appropriate sources is crucial. You must match the source type to the specific investigation focus. For example, if investigating the impact of the Blitz on London, a Ministry of Home Security report is highly appropriate, whereas a personal diary might be better for investigating civilian morale. You need to consider the nature, origin, and purpose of potential sources to determine their relevance. A source is appropriate if it provides specific, reliable details that directly answer the enquiry question, rather than just being generally related to the time period.
What earns the marks
- Identify the specific focus of the historical enquiry regarding London and the Second World War.
- Explain why a particular type of source is relevant to that specific focus.
- Assess how the nature, origin, or purpose of the source makes it appropriate for the investigation.
- Suggest a specific alternative source that would provide different or corroborating evidence for the enquiry.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Stating a source is 'biased' and therefore useless (Correction.
Put it right: Explain how the bias or purpose itself can be useful evidence for specific investigations, such as understanding public morale).
Selecting a source without linking it to the specific enquiry question (Correction.
Put it right: Explicitly state how the source's content helps answer the specific investigation).
Vaguely referring to 'history books' as sources (Correction.
Put it right: Specify primary sources relevant to the historic environment, such as government reports, photographs of bomb damage, or personal memoirs).
Exam tips
- Always link your choice of source directly back to the specific wording of the enquiry question.
- Be specific about the type of source you would select, such as 'Mass Observation diaries' rather than just 'records'.
Try the lesson
The start of the Option 12: The historic environment - 2 Knowledge, selection and use of sources for historical enquiries: Selection of appropriate sources for specific investigations. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which type of source would be most appropriate for investigating the daily routines of nurses in a historic hospital environment?
Listen
When conducting historical enquiries into the historic environment, selecting appropriate sources is crucial. You must match the source type to the specific investigation focus. For example, if investigating the impact of the Blitz on London, a Ministry of Home Security report is highly appropriate, whereas a personal diary might be better for investigating civilian morale. You need to consider the nature, origin, and purpose of potential sources to determine their relevance. A source is appropriate if it provides specific, reliable details that directly answer the enquiry question, rather than just being generally related to the time period. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Identify the specific focus of the historical enquiry regarding London and the Second World War. Explain why a particular type of source is relevant to that specific focus. Assess how the nature, origin, or purpose of the source makes it appropriate for the investigation. Suggest a specific alternative source that would provide different or corroborating evidence for the enquiry. Exam tip: Always link your choice of source directly back to the specific wording of the enquiry question.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Historical enquiry
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Evidence selection
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Source evaluation
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See every definition
- Historical enquiry
- An investigation into the historic environment that has a specific focus, for which appropriate sources must be selected.
- Evidence selection
- Choosing sources that provide specific, reliable details which directly answer the enquiry question, rather than ones only generally related to the time period.
- Source evaluation
- Considering the nature, origin and purpose of potential sources to determine their relevance to a specific investigation.
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