Primary and Secondary Sources

Let’s think about this… How do you normally conduct research? What sources do you use and where do you find those resources? How do you think people researched before the internet? What do you think historians and archeologists use to gather information? What might make a source better than others?

Examples of Primary Sources: Primary Sources are… Examples of Primary Sources: Letters Diaries Speeches Interviews Autobiographies Maps Photos Newspaper articles Treaties Government documents Original, firsthand accounts of historical incidents Usually written/created by someone who was either involved in or witnessed the historical event.

Secondary Sources are… Examples of Secondary Sources: Textbooks Reports Articles Biographies Books Commentaries Magazines Encyclopedias Editorials Offer interpretations or analysis of the primary source material. They are secondhand accounts of historical events.

Evaluation of a Resource How do I know if a resource is a primary or secondary source? Ask the following: How does the author know these details? Was the author present at the event? Where does the information come from? Eyewitness account? Personal experience? Reports written by another person?

Primary or Secondary? 1.

2. 3.

4. 5.

Activity- Personal History Now it’s your turn to create primary and secondary sources. Part 1- Write an account of something that happened to you. This account should be historically accurate and 1 paragraph. PRIMARY SOURCE Part 2- Now, write a 1 paragraph summary about an historic event. It can be anything. This is not a personal account. It should be something that you have learned about history. Be sure to give your reader clues that this is a secondary source. SECONDARY SOURCE

Primary and Secondary Sources Glue the primary and the secondary source in your IN. Directions: Underline anything in the first source that helps you determine that it is a primary source. Answer the following questions, in complete sentences, for the document: Is the source primary or secondary? Where does the information come from? Eyewitness account? Personal experience? Reports written by another person? What key words did you find in the document to let you know that it was primary or secondary?

Primary and Secondary Sources- Part 2 Underline anything in the second source that helps you determine that it is a secondary source. Answer the following questions, in complete sentences, for the document: Is the source primary or secondary? Where does the information come from? Eyewitness account? Personal experience? Reports written by another person? What key words did you find in the document to let you know that it was primary or secondary?

Reflection Use the last 10 minutes of class to reflect on what you learned during this class period. Guiding Question: Show me the difference between a primary source and a secondary source.