Da VIP Academy / GED / Social Studies / Geography & Source Reasoning
Primary & Secondary Sources
Distinguish source types and evaluate point of view, purpose, and reliability.
How it works
Primary vs secondary
A primary source comes from someone present: a letter, speech, photograph, law, or diary. A secondary source analyzes after the fact: a textbook, documentary, or article.
Read for point of view
Ask who wrote it, for whom, and why. A jailed organizer writing to clergy is arguing a case, not reporting neutrally — that does not make it unreliable, but it shapes what it emphasizes.
Worked examples
Classify King's Birmingham letter.
- Written by a participant during the events.
- Therefore primary.
- Purpose: persuade fellow clergy.
Words to know
- Primary source
- A firsthand record created by a participant or witness.
- Bias
- A leaning that shapes what a source includes or emphasizes.
Test-day tips
- • Ask 'was the author there?' — that single question sorts primary from secondary.