Primary and Secondary Sources Explained

The video tutorial explains the difference between prime and secondary resources in the humanities. Prime resources are original materials directly connected to a topic, such as documents or artifacts, while secondary sources help interpret or analyze these materials. The tutorial provides examples of prime resources, discusses their various formats, and explains how journal articles can serve as both primary and secondary sources depending on their use. The key takeaway is that the classification of a source depends on how it is used in research.

What is the main distinction between primary and secondary resources?

• Primary resources are more reliable than secondary resources.

• Secondary resources are created before primary resources.

• Primary resources are original materials, while secondary resources interpret these materials.

• Primary resources are always books, while secondary resources are always articles.

Which of the following could be considered a primary resource?

• A textbook summarizing historical events

• A documentary about World War II

• A diary written by an immigrant in the 1900s

• A modern newspaper article about ancient Rome

What is an example of a primary resource related to an event?

• A modern documentary about the event

• A newspaper editorial from the time of the event

• A textbook summarizing the event

• A scholarly article analyzing the event

What role do secondary sources play in research?

• They help interpret and analyze primary resources.

• They provide first-hand evidence of events.

• They are the only sources needed for research.

• They are always more accurate than primary sources.

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

• A map from the early 20th century

• A scholarly book analyzing immigrant attitudes

• A government legislation document from the 1900s

• A shoe with poetry written on it

Which of the following is NOT a format in which primary resources can exist?

• Speeches

• Fictional novels

• Statistics

• Random bits of paper

How can a journal article be considered a primary source?

• When it is cited by many other articles

• When it is published in a well-known journal

• When it is used to study the language of scholars at a particular time

• When it is the first article written on a topic

Why might a journal article be used as a secondary source?

• It is the oldest article on the subject.

• It is written by a famous author.

• It helps interpret or analyze a primary resource.

• It provides new data on a topic.

What determines whether a source is primary or secondary?

• The way the source is used in research

• The format of the source

• The age of the source

• The length of the source

Which of the following could serve as both a primary and secondary source?

• A personal letter

• A journal article

• A novel

• A government report