For IGCSE History (0470), Paper 2 is often the most feared because it is entirely skills-based. You are given a bunch of historical sources (cartoons, letters, speeches) and asked to evaluate them.
The Reliability Question
When asked 'How reliable is Source A?', you must look at the Provenance (Who wrote it? When? Why?).
- Is it a diary entry? (Likely honest but biased).
- Is it a public speech by a politician? (Likely propaganda, meant to persuade, highly biased).
Cross-Referencing
You can never evaluate a source in isolation. You must cross-reference it with another source or with your own contextual knowledge. 'Source A is unreliable because it claims the Treaty of Versailles was fair, which contradicts my contextual knowledge that Germany lost 13% of its European territory.'
The Message of the Cartoon
For political cartoons, explicitly state the main message, and then point to TWO visual details in the cartoon that prove your point. Don't just describe the cartoon; explain what the artist is trying to make the audience feel.