Scribd
Upload
915 views

How To Write A Gobbet

This document provides instructions for writing a gobbet, which is a short analytical comment on an extract from a historical document. It recommends highlighting key words and phrases, stating the author and work, placing the extract in its historical context, closely analyzing the language and meaning of the text, and discussing the historical significance of the extract and how it relates to course themes. A successful gobbet answer engages with details of the extract, demonstrates how it fits in the source, considers the nature and context of the source, and relates it to wider themes, avoiding wordiness, mere paraphrasing, or losing focus on the extract.

Uploaded by

api-321020169
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
915 views

How To Write A Gobbet

This document provides instructions for writing a gobbet, which is a short analytical comment on an extract from a historical document. It recommends highlighting key words and phrases, stating the author and work, placing the extract in its historical context, closely analyzing the language and meaning of the text, and discussing the historical significance of the extract and how it relates to course themes. A successful gobbet answer engages with details of the extract, demonstrates how it fits in the source, considers the nature and context of the source, and relates it to wider themes, avoiding wordiness, mere paraphrasing, or losing focus on the extract.

Uploaded by

api-321020169
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

How to Write a Gobbet

What is a Gobbet?
A gobbet answer is a short analytical comment on an extract from a
historical document. You are expected to wring the maximum
possible historical understanding from the extract you choose to
comment on. Remember this is NOT an essay the gobbet answer
should be brief and well focused whilst packed with useful historical
analysis.
Tip: Highlight Key Words and Phrases

1) Author and Work or Object and work for a coin or


statue.
- Here you need to state the authors name and title of work, this
also goes for artwork, statue or coin.

2) Historical Setting
- What type of document is it? Who is the author? Why was it written and for whom?
When was it written? What is the tone of the text? You must place this information
within its wider historical context.

3) Textual or Object Analysis


Here you need to really scrutinise the text for meaning. Pay close attention to the
language used and explain the focus and significance of the content.
-

4) Historical Significance
- What is the historical significance of the extract and the document it is taken from?
How does it relate to the general themes of the course? How useful is the source to the
historian? Are there any problems with it of which we should be aware?

CHECKLIST
Does the answer...

Engage with the specific details of the extract?

Demonstrate a knowledge of how the extract fits within the source as a


whole?

Consider the nature of the source (date, authorship, provenance, nature


of the intended audience, questions of bias etc)?

Cross-reference other work?

Relate the extract to wider themes in the May 1968 course? Does the
answer avoid...

Wordiness/irrelevance?

Mere paraphrasing?

An over-broad discussion in which the focus moves away from the


extract concerned?

A misunderstanding of the nature of the gobbet?

You might also like