Compare and Contrast Firsthand and Secondhand Accounts

A firsthand account is based on an author's ____________.

• experience

• opinion

• research

• facts

I walked along the river and felt the summer breeze blow against my skin. The water was peaceful and the sound of the birds singing in the trees made me feel at peace.

Is this a first or second hand account?

• firsthand

• secondhand

A second hand account is based on an author's _________.

• experience

• opinion

• research

• facts

Harry Houdini was a great magician who performed many daring escape acts. He amazed crowds by escaping handcuffs, unlocking chains and surviving impossible situations. He died on Halloween in 1926.

Is this a first or secondhand account?

• firsthand

• secondhand

Which is NOT an example of a firsthand account?

• journal

• letter

• interview

• biography

Which is NOT an example of a secondhand account?

• journal / diary

• dictionary

• biography

• textbook

Choose the answer that would be a firsthand account.

• An article researched and written about the Civil War.

• A picture searched and found on Google.

• A letter written by a slave about the Underground Railroad.

• A textbook about American History.

Choose the answer that would be a secondhand account.

• A letter written by Abraham Lincoln.

• A paper researched and written by a college student.

• A journal entry explaining the final moments on the Titanic.

• An interview with a firefighter about the most dangerous fire he's dealt with.

A first-hand account uses these words

• He, She, They

• Me, I, We, Us

A first-hand account is told by

• Someone who witnessed the event, or was there when it happened.

• Someone who watched a documentary about the event.

• Someone who is friends with a witness of the event, but was NOT there when it happened.

• Someone who heard about the event on the news.