Sources

Do you know what the difference is between primary and secondary sources? Discuss what you think each one is and how they differ from each other. Give examples of what you think might qualify for each. Then think of a significant historical event, like the 921 earthquake, and think of what might qualify as a primary source of information about it, and what might be a secondary source.

•  Primary sources are first-hand information sources. These sources include interviews that include only questions and quotes, autobiographies, quotes, eyewitnesses, letters, speeches, and historical documents. Secondary sources, on the other hand, are second-hand sources. Secondary sources can also be describes as primary sources that have been interpreted by people other than the ones who are involved with a certain person, incident, or event. Secondary sources include encyclopedias, magazines, articles, textbooks, and biographies. Examples of primary and secondary sources are not only limited to the ones listed above. 
• One of the examples that I am going to use here is the 921 Earthquake that occurred in Taiwan. A large amount of people died during this earthquake. One of the primary sources can be a quote from an eyewitness of the earthquake when a building fell down, or from a diary of a victim. On the other hand, a secondary source may be an interview where the victim's feelings, views, and opinions might have been interpreted by the reporter. 
• As you may know, primary sources are more reliable than secondary sources in most cases. But we have to consider the fact that the point of view of that person might be different from another person's point of view, and if they have any hate towards a certain part of an incident of event, they might be biased. Secondary sources sometimes can be more reliable, because the sources have been collected by people who are knowledgeable in those fields.