What is a primary source?
Primary source outlets are the original point of sale source for event tickets (i.e. Ticketmaster, venue box offices, etc.). These outlets only sell tickets at face value plus charge additional service fees that vary for each event, making the total sale price higher than the amount listed on the face of the ticket.
A primary source is a document or physical object which was written or created during the time under study. These sources were present during an experience or time period and offer an inside view of a particular event. Some types of primary sources include: • ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS (excerpts or translations acceptable): Diaries, speeches, manuscripts, letters, interviews, news film footage, autobiographies, official records • CREATIVE WORKS: Poetry, drama, novels, music, art • RELICS OR ARTIFACTS: Pottery, furniture, clothing, buildings Examples of primary sources include: • Diary of Anne Frank – Experiences of a Jewish family during WWII • The Constitution of Canada – Canadian History • A journal article reporting NEW research or findings • Weavings and pottery – Native American history • Plato’s Republic – Women in Ancient Greece What is a secondary source? A secondary source interprets and analyzes primary sources. These sources are one or more steps removed from the event. Secondary so
There are three types of resources used in research: primary sources, secondary sources, and finding tools. I. Primary Sources A primary source is a document, speech, or other sort of evidence written, created or otherwise produced during the time under study. Primary sources offer an inside view of a particular event. Examples include: Original documents: autobiographies, diaries, e-mail, interviews, letters, minutes, news film footage, official records, photographs, raw research data, speeches Creative works: art, drama, films, music, novels, poetry Relics or artifacts: buildings, clothing, DNA, furniture, jewelry, pottery Examples of primary sources: • Plato’s Republic – women in ancient Greece • The Declaration of Independence – U. S. history • African-American Poetry (1750-1900) – U. S. history & literature • Diary of Anne Frank – experiences of Jews in World War II • film footage of the assassination of President J. F. Kennedy • National Security Data Archives – U. S. history ~ d
A primary source is an original resource. No one has interpreted it, evaluated it, or added or removed any words from it. The author of this type of source was present when he/she actually saw and/or heard the event happen. The written or oral account that followed was his/her viewpoint based on what really occurred. General Definitions Determining whether a source is primary or secondary is a challenging task. Even scholars debate one another about this issue. But while it is sometimes a matter of interpretation, there are some general guidelines to help in making a determination. The National History Day Contest Guide (page 1) defines primary sources as “materials directly related to a topic by time or participation. These materials include letters, speeches, diaries, newspaper articles from the time, oral history interviews, documents, photographs, artifacts, or anything else that provides firsthand accounts about a person or event. An interview with an expert … is not a primary s
