Source Analysis
Criterion D: Thinking Critically Year 1 G7
Task: You are going to be looking at multiple sources. You will need to analyze them and
complete the tasks.
Nature Origin and Purpose (NOP)
1. Outline the Nature, origin and purpose.
Source
Nature/Origin
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What is it?
Who created it?
When? Where?
Primary or secondary source?
Purpose
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Why was it made?
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Who was it made for (Audience)?
A
B
C
Source Analysis Written Text: Reading for Information
I. Read the text through to the end.
II. Go back and highlight the key points.
Source A: an excerpt from the Historychannel.com Website
The Gift of the Nile
The River Nile, at 6695 km (sources vary), is the longest river in the
world. Egypt is often referred to as the Gift of the Nile. The Nile was
very important to Ancient Egyptians. With its annual flood the Nile
provided most of the water used to grow crops in Egypt, whereas the
rest of Egypt is a desert. Indeed, it is hard to imagine Egypt existing at
Source Analysis
Criterion D: Thinking Critically Year 1 G7
all without the great river. Heavy rains and melting snow in the
mountains of Ethiopia feed the tributaries which form the White Nile
and the Blue Nile, before joining to become the great river. The torrent
pours into Egypt causing the Nile to overspill its banks. When the
waters eventually recede they leave behind a rich black soil which
Ancient Egyptians referred to as the Black Land (fertile soil).
Question 1. What are the most important points we can learn from Source A about Answer
with quotes from the source the source. Try to write two answers each with a quote.
There are two main points of source A. First, we can learn that … For example (add quote here).
An additional main point is…, for example (add quote here).
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Source Analysis Graphs, Charts: Observation
I. Study the source for 1-2 minutes. Form an overall impression of the source and then examine
individual items.
II. Use the chart below to help you analyze the chart.
Source Analysis
Criterion D: Thinking Critically Year 1 G7
Water Volume of the Nile Rivers
Source E: a graph from wikipedia.org
Source B Graph or Chart
Analyzing structure
Analyzing Information/data
Title:
Highest Point:
What is the horizontal axis
(numbers on the bottom):
Lowest Point:
Vertical axis (Numbers on the
side):
Do the numbers trend up or down or up and down?
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Overall do the numbers trend up or down or the same?
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Q2. What can we learn about rainfall (precipitation) in Egypt from Source B?
*Give two clear answers to the question and include data or descriptions from the source.
Include trends, high and low points.
The most important thing we can learn from source B is… for example, we can see (description or
data here). Additionally, we can learn…, as evidenced by (add description or data here).
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Source Analysis
Criterion D: Thinking Critically Year 1 G7
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Question 3. Compare: Does Source B agree with Source A and C?
Source C
Side by side photos
from
Historychannel.com
Figure 2. When the flood water is gone rich earth
is left for farming.
Figure 1. The Nile during the flood season.
Source A says
Source B shows
Source C shows