What is the difference?

A primary source is a first-hand account of a historical event. Think of it as an eye- witness to a crime. Primary sources have not been revised or altered in any way. Examples of primary sources include: diaries, autobiographies, contemporary newspaper articles, paintings, poems, songs, interviews, manuscripts, artifacts, military correspondence, ships logs, bills of sale. Primary Sources

Examples of Primary Sources

Secondary sources are written in hindsight. They are not eye witnesses to an event. Rather, they collect primary sources to form a more broad view. Examples of secondary sources include: your American history textbook, biographies, most internet sources. Secondary Sources

Let’s say a fight should happen to break out at MHS between two students in the main hall. A teacher and a group of students witness the fight break out. The teacher calls an assistant principal to the scene. Scenario

The fight is broken up, and the assistant principal must decide what punishment to hand down. Who does he interview? The two students involved in the fight. The student bystanders. The teacher who witnessed the fight. Scenario

Before deciding punishment, the assistant principal consults the principal with the full story, gathered from all the sources. Who are primary sources and who are secondary sources in this example? How do you know? Which is a more credible source, a primary one or a secondary one? Scenario