Primary vs Secondary Sources
By: Skylar & Murren
Primary Source
- eye witness
- direct observations
- comes from the same time period
Ex. diaries, letters, autobiograpghies, clothing, buildings
Secondary Source
- describing a primary source
- not from the same time period
- like a review of historical events
- some steps are removed or moved
Ex. encyclopedias and history textbooks
Difference
- firsthand or secondhand
- how direct it is
- original documents = primary
- interpreted = secondary
- during vs after scene
- origin of source
Example
Topic- 9/11 (How it Happened)
Primary Source- President's Speech on Day Of 9/11
>the night of 9/11
>still in recovery
>President saw it himself
Secondary Source- Scholastic News Article
>describes what happened
>shows thoughts and memories
Non-Example
Non-Example of a Primary Source- Encyclopedia Britannica Article on Apartheid
>describes like a textbook and what happened
>was written on 8-25-14
>continues to be updated
Non-Example of a Secondary Source- Diary of the Apartheid
>takes place from 1968-1969
>was written by someone who experienced it firsthand (Tom Newnham)
>not based on someone else's work
Ways to Remember
Secondary-Secondhand
2x1=2
(needs the 1 or primary)