Critical evaluation of sources
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Introduction
Students analyse a range of primary and secondary sources related to everyday life and welfare during the Great Depression, World War II and Post World War II. For each source, they identify the intended purpose and audience, the creator’s perspectives, values and motives and evaluate its usefulness and reliability.
Achievement standard
By the end of Year 10, students explain the historical significance of the period between 1918 and the early 21st century. They explain the causes and effects of events, developments, turning points or movements in 20th-century Australia and internationally, leading up to and through the Second World War, and the post-war world. They describe social, cultural, economic and/or political aspects, including international developments, related to the changes and continuities in Australian society over this historical period. Students explain the role of significant ideas, individuals, groups and institutions connected to the developments of this period and their influences on Australian and global history.
Students develop and modify a range of questions about the past to inform historical inquiry. They locate, select and compare a range of primary and secondary sources and synthesise the information in sources to use as evidence in historical inquiry. They analyse the origin, content, context and purpose of primary and secondary sources. Students evaluate the accuracy, usefulness and reliability of sources as evidence. They sequence events and developments to analyse cause and effect, and patterns of continuity and change, connected to a period, event or movement. They evaluate perspectives of significant events and developments, and explain the important factors that influence these perspectives. They compare and evaluate different and contested historical interpretations. Students use historical knowledge, concepts and terms to develop descriptions, explanations and historical arguments that synthesise evidence from sources.
Content descriptions
Historical Skills
Identify the origin and content of sources, and explain the purpose and context of primary and secondary sources. (AC9HH10S03)
Explain the usefulness of primary and secondary sources, and the reliability of the information as evidence. (AC9HH10S04)
Student learning resources
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The making of a welfare state
Source analysis worksheet
Suggested activity sequence
This sequence is intended as a framework to be modified and adapted by teachers to suit the needs of a class group.
- Use a grouping strategy to organise students into groups of 4.
- Groups:
- organise sources into primary and secondary sources
- share the sources among group members so that each student has at least 3 sources, including at least one primary source.
- Students individually:
- analyse the sources they have been given and record their conclusions on the worksheet
- share their analysis with other group members.
- Groups organise sources in order of reliability, from the most reliable to the least reliable and explain their rankings.