IXL | Identify primary and secondary sources

Which would be considered a primary source about the habitat of gazelles?

a wildlife nonprofit website that describes the habitat of gazelles

a research study by scientists who directly observed gazelles in their habitat

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question

Which would be considered a primary source about the design of the poncho garment?

a traditional poncho that is displayed in a museum

a fashion magazine article that discusses how the poncho has evolved

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 traditional poncho that is displayed in a museum

This is considered a primary source because it is an original object from the time when ponchos were first worn.

This would not be considered a primary source:

red X symbol, a fashion magazine article that discusses how the poncho has evolved

It is not showing an original design. Magazine articles often explain information and use details from other sources.

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