What is the difference between a primary and secondary source?
Answer
Primary Sources: Primary sources are original historical records created at the time historical events occurred or well after events in the form of memoirs and oral histories.
Examples of primary sources include:
- Letters
- Photographs
- Manuscripts
- Diaries
- Memoirs
- Speeches
- Interview
- Government documents
- Audio recordings
- Oral histories
- Videos
- Other objects or artifacts relating to historical events or works of art
Secondary Sources: Secondary sources are documents written based on the information provided by primary sources and offer a historical perspective or an author's interpretation or analysis. Secondary sources often provide an opinion or particular viewpoint.
Examples of these kinds of sources include:
- Journal and magazine articles
- Newspaper articles
- Books
- Textbooks