Evaluating Sources

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Which source is more trustworthy to answer this question? Who was present at the signing of the Declaration of Independence? Options: Hollywood movie about the American Revolution made in 2001., Book written by a famous historian who is an expert on the American Revolution, published in 1999.

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Book written by a famous historian who is an expert on the American Revolution, published in 1999.

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Did American soldiers commit atrocities during the Vietnam War in 1969? Which source do you trust more? Source 1: Sworn testimony by American Sergeant in Congressional hearings in 1969. Source 2: Speech by American General touring the United States in 1969.

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Source 1: Sworn testimony by American Sergeant in Congressional hearings in 1969.

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Which is NOT an example of a secondary source? Options: Newspaper article, Article critiquing a piece of art, Book about the French Revolution, Biography of George Washington

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Newspaper article

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Which source is more trustworthy to answer this question? What was slavery like in South Carolina? Options: Interview with former slave in 1936. The interviewer is a black man collecting oral histories for the Federal Writers' Project, Interview with former slave in 1936. the interviewer is a white woman collecting oral histories for the Federal Writers' Project

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Interview with former slave in 1936. The interviewer is a black man collecting oral histories for the Federal Writers' Project

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Which source is more trustworthy to answer this question?
What was the layout of the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz?

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Map of concentration camp found in Nazi files.

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Which source is more trustworthy to answer this question? Why were Japanese Americans put in internment camps during WWII? Options: Government film explaining internment from 1942. Government report on Japanese internment from 1983 based on declassified government documents.

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Government report on Japanese internment from 1983 based on declassified government documents.

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Which source is more trustworthy to answer this question? Did American soldiers commit atrocities during the Vietnam War in 1969? Options: Sworn testimony by American Sergeant in Congressional hearings in 1969., Speech by American General touring the United States in 1969.

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Sworn testimony by American Sergeant in Congressional hearings in 1969.

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Which source is more trustworthy to answer this question? What happened at the Battle of Little Bighorn? Options: High school history textbook from 1985. Newspaper account from the day after the battle in June 1876. None of the above.

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Newspaper account from the day after the battle in June 1876.

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Why does source evaluation matter?

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Helps you make better decisions and stronger arguments

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What is the difference between primary and secondary sources?

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Primary = first-hand accounts, witnesses
Secondary = analysis, interpretation, or evaluation of materials