IXL | Identify primary and secondary sources

Which would be considered a primary source about indoor handball?

a sports magazine article about the history of handball in different countries

a TV broadcast showing the first indoor handball matches in Munich

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question

Which would be considered a primary source about the Underground Railroad?

a photo of Harriet Tubman, who helped lead the Underground Railroad

a newspaper article written about the Underground Railroad after it had ended

key idea

When researching a topic, you are likely to find both primary and secondary

sources.

Primary sources are original records or texts created at or around the time of an

event.

Here are some examples of primary sources:

written letters, diaries, or newspaper articles by people who directly experienced an event

recorded speeches or videos of people or events from a particular time

drawings, images, or objects from a particular time or event

A newspaper article about George Washington written when he was president would be a primary source.

Secondary sources are informational texts created by people who have studied a topic, event, or period in

history.

These sources often interpret and explain the historical event, combining information from several sources. Here are some examples of secondary sources:

history books, encyclopedias, or research articles

information from other sources written by experts on a topic

A book about George Washington's time as president written today would be a secondary source.

solution

This would be considered a primary source:

green checkmark, a photo of Harriet Tubman, who helped lead the Underground Railroad

This is considered a primary source because it is an original image showing Harriet Tubman during the time of the Underground Railroad.

This would not be considered a primary source:

red X symbol, a newspaper article written about the Underground Railroad after it had ended

It is not an original source created around the time of the event. Newspaper articles often explain information and use details from other sources.

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