Primary and Secondary Sources Review

A primary source is...

• something that was used or created by someone with first hand experience of the historical event

• something created by someone who was not around for the historical event

A secondary source is...

• something that was used or created by someone with first hand experience of the historical event

• something created by someone who was not around for the historical event

One pro of primary sources is that...

• they may be written in "older" language that is difficult to understand

• they can make history feel more "real"

• they usually have glossaries and indexes and are written in easy to understand language

• the author has already analyzed all of the information

One pro of secondary sources is that...

• they are written in "older" language

• they can be very biased towards the author's point of view

• they often do not include glossaries and indexes

• the author has already interpreted and analyzed the information

True or False: The same source can change from primary to secondary depending on the researcher's purpose.

• True

• False

If you are doing a project on Reading, PA and you interview your mom, a longtime Reading resident, she is a ______________ source.

• primary

• secondary

If you want to snoop on your sister and you read her diary, her diary is a ________________ source.

• primary

• secondary

If you watch a YouTuber's review of the Marvel movies. The YouTuber is a ___________ source.

• primary

• secondary

If you use a textbook at school to learn about the Revolutionary War, it is a ____________ source.

• primary

• secondary

If you listen to CD recordings of your great-grandparents talking about their lives, they are a ____________ source.

• primary

• secondary