Top Right Hand Page Visual Art Primary Source Fro
Primary Sources and Secondary Sources
Primary sources
are firsthand accounts. They provide
direct or original evidence
from that time in
history. They are the basis of historical writing and the foundation or raw material of the historian.
Examples are autobiographies, letters, maps, diaries, poems, memoirs, oral histories, advertisements,
sermons, eulogies, treaties, laws, regulations, licenses, documents, and records —both official and non
official.
These can be visual such as films, paintings, artwork, photographs and other types of art. They
represent the culture of which they were created. These sources show the concerns, customs, styles,
work, dress, play, lifestyles of specific times in history.
Secondary sources
are second hand accounts. They come from someone else other than an original
source. Books – are usually secondary sources. They typically use primary sources to develop the
information. Books and magazine or newspaper articles are secondary sources; however they can be
used by historians to show the interests, perspectives, culture and values of the time in which they were
written.
This website from Princeton University has a brief but informative summary of the topic:
https://www.princeton.edu/~refdesk/primary2.html
Questions to ask a primary source-
What was the creator’s purpose?
What was the creator’s perspective?
What is the historic context in which it was created?
Was it to be public or private as a document or written work?
Do other sources give the same information or perspective?
Who was the audience?
Do you find any bias?
Questions to ask a secondary source-
Who wrote it and what was the author’s purpose in writing it
Are the arguments or interpretation persuasive?
Is there evidence to back the author’s interpretation?
Does the author rely on primary sources?
What is the perspective of the author? Do you find bias?
1. Fourth of July Picnic, text p. 218
2. Early Mill in New England text p. 220
3. Deck Life on the Paragon , 1811-1812 text p. 222
4. The Rendezvous, text p. 225
5. Seminole Dance text p. 227
6. Platte River Crossing text p. 226
Pick one image. Do not research the painting, image or the artist. Do not write about the painter or artist.
Share the primary source you picked and describe it in detail explaining what you see
After describing the source you picked answer these questions about the image:
What culture, time period and place does it depict?
What is the historic setting?
What perspective does the artist portray about the topic?
What “story” or “narrative” does the image display about the period after 1815 or the people in it?
What was left out?
What can we learn about the American experience from the image?
What does this source tell us about the time and place in which it was produced?
How did viewing this source help you understand the time in which the piece was produced?
Use only the text Chapter 8 and the resources in Module Week 8 for background.
No outside research.
You must show me your read and understand the material assigned and Module 8.
Guidelines
Upload your written response a file due at the end of Week 8 for up to 50 points.
Find the grading rubric in the top right hand page drop down menu with gear.
Write using your own words.
Do not embed any photos or illustrations.
Canvas will check your file for plagiarism. If you copy any word or phrase place it in quotation marks.
No outside research is allowed. Use only our textbook and the resources in Week 8 Module.
Do not repeat the questions.
Direct quotations should be no longer than 1.5 sentences.
Do not type a heading, title. Place only your name on the paper.
Type the word count at the end of your last line.
Minimum word count 275. Maximum word count 450.