Final answer:
Sourcing is the process of determining who wrote a document and under what circumstances, evaluating the source for claims, evidence, and author perspective, and understanding how historical context influenced the content of the source.
Step-by-step explanation:
“Sourcing” in a historical context refers to locating, examining, and analyzing primary and secondary sources to answer guiding questions about historical events. The practice of sourcing involves several key steps, including summarizing a document to identify explicit information, contextualizing to understand its place in history, and reviewing both the content and context critically to understand the author's perspective and intent. This process includes determining the type of source, the author’s background and motives, examining the historical context, and considering the information within the wider spectrum of available evidence and competing narratives.
When evaluating a source, it's essential to ask pertinent questions about its creation, such as 'Who authored the source and why?' and 'What is the historical context?' This approach helps establish the credibility of a source and recognizes biases and assumptions that could influence its content. These steps are crucial to understanding the bigger picture and creating a reliable interpretation of past events.
Analysis of sources does not stop with a literal examination. It also involves inferring information that may not be directly stated and reflecting on initial judgments to see if they stand up to further scrutiny or if additional research is warranted to revise previously drawn conclusions.