How do I write about the background of a source?

Historical sources are an essential part of studying the past. Though can sometimes be confusing, there are lots of easy ways on how to break them down.The background of a source is essential to understand its content. You cannot take a source at face value, because it can tell us much more about the time. Therefore, reliability/bias/usefulness are important to consider when looking at sources.First, identify if the source is primary or secondary:Contemporary/primary sources: formed at the time, like a letter or photograph.Secondary sources: formed a while after the event, like a text book or academic article.From this, consider where the source has come from. The best way to approach this is through NOP: Nature, Origin, Purpose. You can use this to identify how useful or reliable a source may be.Nature: What form is the source? Is it a poster or picture or letter? What does this mean for its reliability? If it is a letter, does this mean it will reveal personal interests?Origin: When was it from? If it was written at the time, does this make it reliable? If it is from 100 years later, does this make it useful? Who was it written by? Were they directly involved in the event? Does this impact on reliability?Purpose: Why was the source produced? What were the motives of the writer/artist/photographer? Does this impact on reliability or does it make the source one sided?Breaking down sources is all about asking questions! Think about the wider context and delve deeper into why and how it was produced. Sources are a very important component of historical puzzles, which can make them very interesting!