Which is an example of a primary source?

Which is an example of a primary source?

• A. An original diary from a historical event.
• B. A textbook chapter about the event.
• C. A summarized newspaper article.
• D. A later documentary about the event.

Answer: (A)

Primary sources are firsthand records created during the time of an event or by someone who witnessed it. An original diary from a historical event is a clear example because it captures the writer’s own observations, thoughts, and experiences as they happened, in the person’s own words. This direct connection to the event is what makes it a primary source. Textbooks summarize and interpret information later, making them secondary sources, and a summarized newspaper article, though based on reporting, is also a secondary source. A later documentary analyzes and presents conclusions after researching the event, so it’s typically considered secondary as well.

Primary sources are firsthand records created during the time of an event or by someone who witnessed it. An original diary from a historical event is a clear example because it captures the writer’s own observations, thoughts, and experiences as they happened, in the person’s own words. This direct connection to the event is what makes it a primary source. Textbooks summarize and interpret information later, making them secondary sources, and a summarized newspaper article, though based on reporting, is also a secondary source. A later documentary analyzes and presents conclusions after researching the event, so it’s typically considered secondary as well.