Primary Text:
* Original source: This is the first-hand account, the original document, or the artifact itself.
* Directly involved: The author was directly involved in the event, creation, or experience being described.
* Examples:
* A diary entry from someone who lived through a historical event.
* A scientific paper reporting original research.
* A historical document like a treaty or a letter.
* A work of art or literature.
Secondary Text:
* Interpretations and analysis: This is a text that analyzes, interprets, or discusses primary sources.
* Indirect involvement: The author was not directly involved in the event, creation, or experience.
* Examples:
* A history textbook discussing the French Revolution.
* A biography about a famous artist.
* A review of a movie or a book.
* A research paper that analyzes data from previous studies.
In simpler terms:
* Primary text: You are reading what happened directly.
* Secondary text: You are reading someone's interpretation of what happened.
Here's an analogy:
Imagine a car accident.
* Primary text: The police report, the eyewitness accounts of people who saw the accident happen.
* Secondary text: A newspaper article about the accident, or a documentary about car accidents in general.
Using primary and secondary texts together is often the most effective way to learn about a subject, as you get both the raw facts and the interpretations of those facts.