Timing is tight - at a mark a minute and lots of reading to do and 3 essays (2 six markers and a 12 marker), time is of the essence. Do a past paper if you want, you can see for yourself.
For the twelve marker:
As with any essay, answer the question. Every point you make should be directly related to the text. Try to use your exterior knowledge to back up any points you make about the sources (only in 12 marker), but also give evidence from the sources.
I would make three broad points (one for each source), under which I would include three or four sub-points, with a total of about 10 points in the basic form of Point, Evidence, Explanation. Give the point, then show evidence from the source, followed by evidence from exterior knowledge.Then explain that point and try to analyse it perceptively. Ensure that you never waffle, and every sentence, ensure it relates to the question.
The twelve marker always asks you to do the following:
Choose three sources: either from those they give you or ones you have studied (although I would advise against the latter)
Say the relevant facts presented by each source
Explain the significance and limitations of those sources
The first two are the easy bit. But do not underestimate the importance of choosing the right source: don't pick too many vases/paintings, because their limitations have to be the same. I would pick two opposing written sources (perhaps an academic one and a play extract) and one painting/vase. The significance is key - this is what your point is. The limitations of each source should make up one of your three or four points on each one - talk about bias of the author, the fact that vases have to be pretty so aren't necessarily telling the truth etc. then talk about the affect of the limitation. Again the limitation should be presented as follows:
State limitation
Prove it
Explain it
This is a good site:
http://www.insearchofthegreeks.com/By the way, topics to study for greek sources are as follows:
Greek house, marriage/weddings, slaves, women, parties/sympoisa, theatre, athletics, spartan government, spartan women, spartan education, religion/sacrifices/festivals/gods, athenian citizenship, democracy and jobs/duties. I would also recommend studying the following authors as they typically come up:
Xenophon, Herodotus, Hesiod, Aristophanes, Aristotle, Lysias, Plutarch, Hippocrates, Sophocles, Theogonis and Euripides - think about their potential bias/agenda and how you can speak about that in essays. In general think how to analyse sources and in particular vases/paintings as they always come up - think what they are portraying, why, how and in particular whether they have bias and if their source is reliable!
Good luck