Primary vs. Secondary

Primary vs. Secondary

Multiple Choice

When you’re doing research about an event, person or period in history, you want to look for historical sources of information. Some sources are considered primary sources, and others are considered secondary sources.

Which of the following best describes historical sources?

• When people imagine events from the past and write about them to create historical sources

• Historical sources come from witnesses and from people who study accounts of witnesses.

• Primary sources are works of fiction, while secondary sources are generally nonfiction and both are historical.

• Secondary sources are historical because they analyze information, but primary sources are not historical

Multiple Choice

Primary sources are always original, first-hand information. They are usually created at the time a specific event occurred. Primary sources give an eyewitness account of what life was like at a certain time.

Thea is writing a report on President Donald J. Trump and wants to include both primary and secondary sources. Which of the following sources is not a primary source about President Trump?

• a videotaped interview with him

• an encyclopedia entry on him

• a tweet he wrote and posted

• an email from him to his chief of staff

Multiple Choice

Secondary sources are made by someone who did not experience an event first-hand. A secondary source often uses one or more primary sources to create an overall picture of what life was like at a certain time or place. Secondary sources are useful because they can give a lot of information at once.

Which of the following is not true of secondary sources?

• They were created by a witness to the event being discussed.

• They can give a lot of information at one time.

• They create an overall picture of history.

• They often use one or more primary sources.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is not considered a primary source?

• A diary entry

• A biography

• A letter

• A photograph

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is not considered a secondary source?

• A magazine article

• A textbook

• An encyclopedia entry

• An interview

Multiple Choice

A primary source is created by someone who:

• read about an event

• made up an event from their imagination

• was present at the event

• heard about an event from a witness

Primary or Secondary Source?

You're studying the year 2016.

What type of sources is a Drake t-shirt from his 2016 concert?

Multiple Choice

You're studying the year 2016.

What type of sources is a Drake t-shirt from his 2016 concert?

• Primary source

• Secondary source

I'm studying the year 1992.

What type of source is a newspaper dated October 25, 1992?

Multiple Choice

What type of source is a newspaper dated October 25, 1992?

• Primary source

• Secondary source

You're watching a documentary about 9/11 filmed in 2012.

What type of source is the film?

Multiple Choice

What type of source is this documentary film?

• Primary source

• Secondary source

Multiple Choice

Which of these is a primary source?

• a rap song Harriet Tubman

• a photograph of Harriet Tubman

• an essay about Harriet Tubman

• a documentary film about Harriet Tubman

Multiple Choice

True or False: Secondary sources often draw from one or more primary sources?

• True

• False

Open Ended

What is your first name?