What is the difference between primary and secondary sources?

What is the difference between primary and secondary sources?

What is a Primary Source?

A primary source is an object, item, document, or relic that was created by the person who used it within the course of their lifetime.  It is an original object from the specific time period that is being studied.  Examples of primary sources can include photographs, diary entries, letters, newspaper articles, pottery, clothing items, household components, legal documents, government documents, art, and more.  


How do I find Primary Sources for my Research Report?

Here are a few websites that offer many examples of primary sources.  These range in subjects from history to English and more.  Feel free to use these websites in your own research as you work through your mastery assignments. 


What is a Secondary Source? 

A secondary source is a reference, information, recollection, or document made after the historical event took place.  These selections recall important details about specific events, but they were created after the event took place.  Oftentimes, secondary sources are created to study historical events. They are written or created by someone who was not present at the time of the event in which they are writing. 


Examples of secondary sources include books written about historical events, encyclopedias, textbooks, documentaries, literary analyses, and more.  


How do I find Secondary Sources for my Research Report?

Here are a few websites that offer many examples of secondary sources.  These range in subjects from history to English and more.  Feel free to use these websites in your own research as you work through your mastery assignments. 



For more information about primary and secondary sources, click here. 

What’s the difference between a primary source and a secondary source?


Subject
Primary Sources
Secondary Sources
Civil War
Ancient Rome
Handbook of Ancient Greek and Roman Coins: An Official Guidebook
Art/Paintings
Ancient Egypt
1,000 Facts About Ancient Egypt, a Book Published in 2019
Psychology
Interview with a patient
Magazine article about a psychological condition
Political Science
US Census Statistics
Historical analysis of past census information



Video Citation: 

HistoryVideos100. (2017, January 2). Primary vs Secondary Sources. YouTube. Retrieved April 18, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1og03RKuhU 



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