Primary and Secondary Sources Coach Kuntz 8th Grade U.S. History

What is a primary source? -A primary source is an original document or object -Typically these are materials created during the time period you are studying -This is a first-hand account of an event!

Primary sources can be… -Autobiographies This is when you write a book about yourself -Diaries and journals These are personal writings from a period in history The Diary of Anne Frank is an example of a famous historical Diary -Original sound or video recordings and photos of events We now have video footage from the frontlines of historical events. These are considered primary sources

Primary sources can be… (cont.) - Historical documents Documents such as government records, court documents, military records, tax records, are considered primary sources -Interviews with individuals who experienced events first-hand.

What is a secondary source? -A secondary source is something written about a primary source. -These sources are typically created well after an event has occurred. -These sources typically try to interpret information found in primary sources.

Secondary sources can be… -History books, biographies, encyclopedias, or articles in magazines.

Primary Sources Benefits -First hand knowledge from the time of the event -These sources can give you a sense of what it was like to be alive during the time of the event Disadvantages -Sources could be biased (whether intentionally or unintentionally) -Sources may not have complete information about a situation

Secondary Sources Disadvantages Benefits -Can provide analysis and interpretation of events found in primary sources -These sources benefit from being in the present. They can look at multiple sources to give an accurate story of what actually happened Disadvantages -Bad secondary sources exists that don’t accurately interpret history -They sometimes lack experience of what it is like to live in the time period of an event