Q&A for How to Answer a Source Question in History

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What if we could not do research during the exam?

Emily Listmann, MA
Academic Tutor and Life Coach
Emily Listmann is a Private Tutor and Life Coach in Santa Cruz, California. In 2018, she founded Mindful & Well, a natural healing and wellness coaching service. She has worked as a Social Studies Teacher, Curriculum Coordinator, and an SAT Prep Teacher. She received her MA in Education from the Stanford Graduate School of Education in 2014. Emily also received her Wellness Coach Certificate from Cornell University and completed the Mindfulness Training by Mindful Schools.

Emily Listmann, MA

Academic Tutor and Life Coach

Expert Answer

It sounds like you are referring to contextualizing the source; or, relating the source to what you know about the period. Often for these types of tests, you are asked to come into it with knowledge of a certain time period or topic so that you are better able to place the documents in context. Be sure to carefully go through your study guide or teacher’s instructions for the test beforehand and to try to internalize as much information about the time period/topic as you can. If you enter the exam and still don’t understand any context for the document, follow the steps in “Evaluating the Source” as carefully as you can to look for clues in the document about its context.

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Question

Should I stick to only one point?

Emily Listmann, MA
Academic Tutor and Life Coach
Emily Listmann is a Private Tutor and Life Coach in Santa Cruz, California. In 2018, she founded Mindful & Well, a natural healing and wellness coaching service. She has worked as a Social Studies Teacher, Curriculum Coordinator, and an SAT Prep Teacher. She received her MA in Education from the Stanford Graduate School of Education in 2014. Emily also received her Wellness Coach Certificate from Cornell University and completed the Mindfulness Training by Mindful Schools.

Emily Listmann, MA

Academic Tutor and Life Coach

Expert Answer

You should always have a clear thesis or claim in your essay that answers the question in the prompt. Within your thesis or claim, you can have additional points that fall under the umbrella of your claim.

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Question

How can I make sure my answer is correct?

Community Answer

Go through the source again and check your work.

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What should I do if I am not sure of the answer?

Community Answer

Do not answer! Do the research and confidently answer the question only when you know it is the right one.

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What are the sources of history?

Community Answer

The sources of history are relics, places, hidden texts and scrolls, writings, drawings, historical writing and findings written about these things by academics.

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