Exploring Primary and Secondary Sources in History

What is a source for historians?

• A modern-day newspaper

• Anything that can be used to study the past

• A future prediction

• A fictional story

Which of the following is a primary source?

• A recent article about the event

• A modern documentary

• A painting made during the event

• A book written 100 years after an event

If you wrote a diary on your first day of school, what type of source would it be?

• Primary source

• Tertiary source

• Secondary source

• None of the above

Which of the following is NOT a primary source?

• A coin from the 6th Century BC

• A letter written by a king during his reign

• A history book written 500 years later

• A painting made during the subject's lifetime

What defines a secondary source?

• It is created long after the event

• It is created at the time of the event

• It is a fictional account

• It is a primary source

Which of the following is an example of a secondary source?

• A diary entry from the event

• A coin from the event

• A history book written centuries later

• A letter written during the event

A web page about Julius Caesar created in modern times is a:

• Primary source

• Tertiary source

• Secondary source

• None of the above

A Greek coin from the 6th Century BC is considered a:

• Primary source

• Secondary source

• Modern artifact

• None of the above

A history textbook discussing events from 700 years ago is a:

• Secondary source

• None of the above

• Primary and secondary source

• Primary source

What question should you ask to determine if a source is primary or secondary?

• Was this made at the time of the event?

• Is this a reliable source?

• Who wrote this?

• Is this a popular source?