1. Primary vs. Secondary Sources
San Jacinto High School
2015

2. Types of Sources
SECONDARY SOURCES
PRIMARY SOURCES

3. What is a Primary Source?
Original records of political, economic, artistic, scientific, social and intellectual thoughts and achievements
Produced by ppl who participated in or witnessed past
Offer variety of points of view and perspectives
Used or created by someone with first-had experience of an event.

4. Examples of Primary Sources
Audio: oral histories, memoirs, interviews, music
Images: photographs, videos, film, fine art
Objects / Artifacts: clothing, tools, pottery, gravestones, inventions, machines, weapons, memorabilia
Statistics: census data, population statistics, weather records
Text: letters, diaries, original documents, legal agreements, treaties, maps, laws, advertisements, recipes, sermons, lectures

5. What is a Secondary Source?
Documents written after an event has occurred
Interprets and analyzes primary sources
Offer different perspectives, viewpoints, interpretations of events
Provide background information that allow you to understand the context of an event

6. Examples of Secondary Sources
Textbooks
Magazine articles
Documentaries
Commentaries
Editorials
Essays
Book Reviews
Encyclopedias

7. Scenario
Primary or Secondary?
Why? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

8. Scenario 1
I was watching ESPN and one of the reporters said he had heard good reviews about a new sports movie. Primary or secondary?

9. Scenario 2
I found a letter to one of my friends in the locker room after school the other day. I know it’s private but I want to read it! Primary or secondary?

10. Scenario 3
My friends and I found an old wedding dress in our attic. Primary or secondary?

11. Scenario 4
At school we use textbooks to learn about the history of the United States. Primary or secondary?

12. Scenario 5
I like to read People magazine. I really like the articles written by others about Hollywood actors. Primary or secondary?

13. Scenario 6
My mom has CDs of my grandparents telling stories about when they were kids. We love to listen to these at family gatherings. Primary or secondary?

14. Scenario 7
I am writing an essay on George Washington for my U.S. History class. I used articles from Wikipedia and another encyclopedia. Primary or secondary?

15. Scenario 8
When I am doing homework for U.S. Government and I read the commentaries by Supreme Court Justices on landmark case. Primary or secondary?

16. Scenario 9
When I was at summer camp a few years ago, I found at arrowhead; I did research and found out it has been made by the Cherokee Indians. Primary or secondary?

17. Scenario 10
My friend Tim said I should read a book that he really liked. He told me about it – it sounds really good! Primary or secondary?

18. Exit Slip What is a primary source?
Give an example of a primary source.
What is a secondary source?
Give an example of a secondary source.