Which describes a primary source?

• A. A newspaper article analyzing a war
• B. An eyewitness diary from the event
• C. A modern documentary
• D. A textbook summary

Answer: (B)

Understanding what counts as a primary source is essential. A primary source is an original artifact or document created at the time of an event or by someone with direct experience of it. An eyewitness diary from the event fits this perfectly because it records the writer’s firsthand observations and thoughts as things happened, without later interpretation. That immediacy and personal perspective is what makes it a primary source.

The other options are examples of secondary sources. A newspaper article that analyzes a war is interpreting and synthesizing information after the fact, not presenting the original experience itself. A modern documentary typically builds a narrative from various sources and adds commentary. A textbook summary condenses and explains information drawn from multiple sources. All of these provide interpretation rather than the direct, original account.

So the eyewitness diary from the event is the primary source.