Which of the following is an example of a primary source?

• A. A video interview with a witness
• B. A newspaper article about the interview
• C. A textbook chapter analyzing the event
• D. A documentary about the event

Answer: (A)

Primary sources are original, firsthand materials created at the time of an event or by someone who experienced it. A video interview with a witness is an example of a primary source because it records the witness’s own words and observations directly from the source, without an intermediary interpreting or reanalyzing them.

The newspaper article about the interview is secondary because it presents someone else’s statements within a journalistic narrative and adds interpretation. A textbook chapter analyzing the event is also secondary, since it synthesizes and interprets information from multiple sources. A documentary about the event is typically considered secondary as well, since it curates and explains evidence gathered from various sources, even though it may include some direct footage.