Primary vs. Secondary Sources

Front

What is a primary source?

Back

A primary source is an original document or firsthand account created at the time of an event. Examples include diaries, photographs, and official documents.

Front

What is a secondary source?

Back

A secondary source interprets or analyzes primary sources. Examples include textbooks, articles, and documentaries.

Front

Identify the source type: A YouTube video describing how the pyramids were built.

Back

SECONDARY

Front

Identify the source type: An autobiography about the 40th president, Ronald Reagan.

Back

PRIMARY

Front

Identify the source type: A news report about the opening of a power plant.

Back

PRIMARY

Front

Identify the source type: The United States Constitution.

Back

PRIMARY

Front

Identify the source type: A scientist explaining what it was like for Buzz Aldrin to walk on the moon.

Back

SECONDARY

Front

Why are primary sources important in research?

Back

Primary sources provide direct evidence and firsthand accounts, allowing researchers to get closer to the original events or ideas.

Front

Why are secondary sources useful?

Back

Secondary sources help to interpret and analyze primary sources, providing context and understanding of the information.

Front

Give an example of a primary source related to World War II.

Back

A soldier's diary from World War II.