yr13_ia_2007_buckley_c

=Evaluation of Sources (250-400 words)= = = //The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾// is a valuable source because the author Sue Townsend addresses themes such as materialism, the Falklands War, unemployment and feminism during the Thatcher era. Because the protagonist Adrian Mole is an adolescent born of two working-class parents confronted to the above aspects within Thatcher’s government, the source’s relevance is therefore extremely valuable: Townsend provides an adequate [**?**] and purposely cynical portrayal of the obstacles the United Kingdom faced during the beginning of the Thatcher era, and the working-class response to the way the Prime Minister was to deal with such obstacles.

However, //The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾//’s values are equally limited [**"has its limiations" sounds better**]; as an author, Sue Townsend’s primary purpose when writing the novel was clearly to entertain more than attack or inform [**is it not possible to do all three things at once?**]. Although the novel addresses the themes accurately as well as humorously, Townsend may have [**either she did, or she didn't - you can't just speculate and expect any marks for such a comment - give PROOF!]** exaggerated certain aspects of Thatcher’s government in order to add a slightly more enticing touch to her writing. Although the novel is widely enjoyed by adults, it is primarily directed to adolescent readers, therefore perhaps [**again, this sort of woolly, vague "might have" point gets you no marks. Either make a judgement and substantiate it, or don't bother making it at all!**] subject to self-censorship from Townsend upon the true nature or the more solemn aspects of the themes addressed.

//Post-War: A History Of Europe Since 1945// by the historian Tony Judt is a very valuable source in terms of its origin: it is a widespread and comprehensive recollection of European historical facts after the Second World War. Its success as a historical masterpiece [**"Its status as a serious academic work is well established" reads better here**] is unquestionable, acclaimed by reputable historians such as Ian Kershaw [**when? where? have you got a quote?**], and winner of the 2006 Arthur Ross Book Award. Its reliability is thus acknowledged as being second to none [**cut; this is repetitive]**, and the factual relevance of this particular source can therefore be trusted to a greater extent than //The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾//; this consequently enables to address the investigation’s question in greater detail.

However, //Post-War: A History Of Europe Since 1945// is also a slightly limited source, in terms of the relevance to the investigation’s purpose. As it is a history of Europe after the Second World War, it is much less detailed than an historical account focusing purely on the Thatcher era. The only section which could possibly be affiliated to the Thatcherite polemics in //Post-War: A History Of Europe Since 1945// is “XVII The New Realism (Part Thee: Recessional: 1971-1989)”. Another limitation, which could perhaps be overlooked, is the //Sunday Times’// referral to Judt as being “sometimes personal” in his take [**this is a really nice final point - you should make more of this (have you got further elaboration of what they were getting at?), and less of the "it covers a wide time span" point, which is rather lame and boring**]