We all bring our own unique perspectives and bias to whatever is being studied. However, a historian attempts to
examine history as it relates today using available historical evidence. An individual historian’s past and present
can influence questions but inquiry and research should be as objective as possible.
Remember you are not retelling history.
As part-time storyteller, detective, scientist, and lawyer, you are researching like a historian by objectively interpreting history though evidence, analysis, and inquiry.
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A primary source is first hand evidence/source.
A primary source is from the period/era being researched.
Examples of primary sources: speeches, letters, comics/cartoons, songs, legislation, court decisions, journals/diaries, interviews, artifacts, autobiographies, statistics, experiments, and photographs.
A secondary source is a book or article written about an time period, event, topic, etc.
Secondary sources provides background information about the topic beinging researched.
Secondary sources are based on primary documents.
Examples of secondary sources: articles, dictionaries, encyclopedias, textbooks, books.