How do I approach primary source evaluation at A-level?

Analysis of primary sources can often seem daunting, especially with Early Modern topics where the language can be difficult to understand. Breaking the analysis down into sections can make it easier – we will look at provenance, usefulness, reliability, and contextual knowledge. Provenance refers to who created the source, where did it come from, who was the intended audience? Usefulness is about the strengths and limitations of a source; what does it tell us about a topic, and what has it left out? Reliability refers to how much we trust the source as evidence. Finally, contextual knowledge is the application of your own knowledge to a source – what is the background and wider situation in which it was written?Let’s look at a source and analyse it using these four sections.Source A – William Paget, an advisor to Somerset, writes a letter explaining the religious situation in England in the Summer of 1549Look well whether you have law or religion at home, and I fear you shall find neither. The use of the old religion is forbidden by law, and the use of the new is not yet printed in the stomachs of eleven out of twelve parts of the realm.Provenance – William Paget was a protestant. His writing to Somerset in such a frank way suggests that this was a personal letter not intended for outside eyes, but to give advice.Usefulness – The source tells us that most of the country doesn’t believe in the new protestant faith, despite it being written after the Act of Uniformity. Despite legal changes, the beliefs and attitudes of the people aren’t changing. The source doesn’t tell us about the Western and Ketts rebellions that took place in the summer of 1549, or that the Act of Uniformity was not completely clear about some areas of religion. Reliability – The fact that it is a personal letter suggests relative reliability. Also, the fact that Paget is delivering bad news and being honest suggests he is telling the truth and advising Somerset rather than placating him.Contextual Knowledge – We know that the Act of Uniformity was enforced form January 1549, introducing more Protestant changes. 1549 was also a year of unrest, with the Western and Ketts rebellions both having some religious motivation. William Paget is known to be Protestant because of his involvement with the reformist faction late in Henry VIII’s reign.