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WG7 - COVID-19: Primary & Secondary Sources

Slide Deck for Ms. Frith's class

What are primary sources?

Primary sources are original artifacts or documents. They offer accounts from participants or people directly involved in an event.

  • Some examples of primary sources:
    • Speeches
    • Government Documents (Text of laws, treaties, ...)
    • Interviews
    • Data (Census data, Scientific data...)
    • Magazines, Newspapers, Magazines, and Journal articles from the time period of the topic (Check with your teacher if the article can be used as a primary source)

Click here for the National Archives eBooks collection that offers exhibit guides and books incorporating primary sources.

What are secondary sources?

Secondary sources address or analyze events, people, works, or topics.  Secondary sources often analyzes or interprets primary sources.

  • Provides background information, analysis, and unique perspectives
  • Check the bibliography for leads to other secondary sources
  • Some examples of secondary sources:
    • Newspaper articles
    • Journal and magazine articles
    • Books