Name: KEY Period: Date: World History Mrs. Schenck Identifying Primary and Secondary Sources Primary Source: a record made by people who saw or took part in an event (originates from the past) any ARTIFACT is a PRIMARY source o artifact: an object made by a human being Secondary Source: a record of an event written by someone not there at the time Is this an ARTIFACT from history? OR Did the creator witness/make the item? Yes = primary source No = secondary source Directions: Determine whether the following are primary or secondary sources. Circle the letter indicating whether the item is a "P" primary source or "S" secondary source. For each one, explain your reasoning in COMPLETE SENTENCES. (P)PRIMARY - (S)SECONDARY 1. The story your grandfather tells you about his experience during the Korean War. Primary Source Your grandfather witnessed and took part in the Korean war, so his story is a primary source. 2. Your World History textbook or an encyclopedia. Secondary Source The authors of a textbook or encyclopedia have not taken part in the events they write about. Textbooks and encyclopedias are almost always secondary sources. 3. The Diary of Anne Frank - the published diary of a teenage girl who experiences the Holocaust first hand. Primary Source - Anne Frank experienced the Holocaust and wrote about her personal experience. Diaries are always primary sources.
4. A letter written by George Washington to his mother about the latest developments in the Revolutionary War. Primary Source George Washington took part in the Revolutionary War and wrote the letter about his personal experiences at the time. Letters are always primary sources. 5. An article in National Geographic about life in ancient Rome. Secondary Source The author of the article did not witness life in ancient Rome. He is using other sources to write his article. 6. A photograph of you and your friends at your 8 th birthday party. Primary Source You took part in the birthday party and were a part of the experience. Photographs are always primary sources. 7. The information from the museum tour guide who shows you around the dinosaur exhibit and shares facts with you. Secondary Source The museum tour guide was not alive during the time of the dinosaurs. She is gathering her information from other sources. 8. A mummy from ancient Egypt. Primary Source Ancient artifacts are always primary sources. They are direct links to the past, and the maker of the mummy was alive and a part of the making the mummy. What might be some advantages and disadvantages to using only a Primary Source primary or secondary source? Secondary Source Advantages Disadvantages Advantages Disadvantages direct link to the past, first hand account we can touch and analyze the source/artifact directly people s opinions can be biased or someone may have misinterpreted an event artifacts can be broken or missing we have to make educated guesses about their meaning and use they are usually print or other media so they are easy to find and use not a direct link to the past, so need to check for author bias or incorrect information history changes we need to look for the most up to date sources
Analyzing Primary and Secondary Sources The actual bones of Ardipithecus Ramidus Primary Source (artifact/fossil) Compare Ardi s bones to our skeleton on the board and make predictions about her.
A scientific article/drawing about Ardi s bones. - Secondary Source A video about archaeologists who found and examined Ardi. - Primary/Secondary Source Big Discovery: Ardi was found in Ethiopia, Africa Dating the Remains: Ardi is 4.4 million years old What Ardi s Bones Tell Us: - teeth: she was female (small canines), young adult (adult molars were not very worn down) - toe: she had an infection, but survived (bone was healed) Did Ardi walk upright?: - yes! BIPEDAL = walked upright on two feet - pelvis tells us she was human (bone for bipedalism only found in humans present, very different in appearance from a chimp) Ardi s Skull: Ardi s Hands and Feet : she is NOT chimp or human own species - feet: grasping big toe (chimplike), but bipedal (humanlike) - hands: wrists and fingers too flexible, showing she did not knuckle walk like chimps Ardi s World: - forest/woodlands: lots of trees - found fossils of pigs, monkeys, birds, etc. there also What did Ardi look like?: - apelike appearance and very hairy - apelike hands with long fingers - grasping toe on foot to hold things, climb trees, but also walked upright - only 4ft. tall Origins of Bipedalism: Evolutionary Advantages of Walking Upright: INFERENCE = logical conclusion based on facts/evidence
Name: Period: Date: Identifying Primary and Secondary Sources Homework 1. Draw or cut and paste a primary source that would tell historians something significant about your life. Primary Source: Why this is a primary source: What this primary source would tell historians about me: 2. Create a secondary source about your life. One hundred years from now, someone writes a book about your life story. What would the title and synopsis of the book be? Secondary Source title of my biography: Why is this a secondary source: Synopsis of my biography:
Name: Period: Date: History Essential Question #2 Exit Slip How do historians use primary/secondary sources to learn about history? Name two pieces of primary source evidence archaeologists used to learn more about Ardi, and explain what inferences archaeologists made using this evidence. Make sure to explain how they were able to make the inference using their evidence. Use multiple and complete sentences. 1. Evidence Inference 2. Evidence Inference