How do I approach source explanation questions?

Source analysis is a key skill you will need to get to grips with for your GCSE exams. Before I break down how you should approach your source analysis in a step by step method, I want to emphasise that you must not take any source on face value, examiners will be looking for you to consider deeping meaning in the source, particularly looking to explore the purpose. You must also make sure to back your points up with contextual knowledge to hit the top marking band criteria.
Follow these steps while annotating your source, BEFORE you start writing your answer.
Step 1 - UNDERSTANDING THE MESSAGE OF THE SOURCEMake sure you read/look at the source a number of times to ensure you understand what the source is trying to say. Is the meaning of the source literal or is their a deeper, more hidden meaning?
Step 2 - UTILISING CONTEXTUAL KNOWLEDGEWhat contextual knowledge do you have to support the sources message (what was happening at the time the source was being published - consider social, political, religious, and economic knowledge that might be relevant!)
Step 3 - IS THE SOURCE RELIABLE?How does the relevant contextual knowledge you labelled help explain the purpose of the source? Look at the source provenance - who published the source, where was it distributed? Remember TAPIT - apply this to every source!! T = Tone (How does the source sound? Is it critical, does it sound passionate, resentful etc), A = Audience (Who is the intended audience of the source, why is this specific group targeted?), P = Purpose (Why was the source published, is it a piece of propaganda?), I = In a position to know (Is the author themselves in a position of authority? Do they have access to information related to the source?), T = Typicality (Think to other types of sources you will have come across for the topic, do they share similar views? Does the sources content shock you? Why?)