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Analyze Historical
Sources

Learn to draw reliable conclusions from primary and secondary sources — a core GED Social Studies skill.

GED Social Studies

What Is a Historical Source?

A historical source is any piece of evidence that tells us about the past. Historians read sources carefully to figure out what happened, why it happened, and what people thought about it.

Two Kinds of Sources

Primary Source
Created during the event by someone who was there. Examples: letters, diaries, speeches, photographs, laws, treaties.
Secondary Source
Created later by someone analyzing the event. Examples: textbooks, biographies, documentaries, encyclopedia entries.

From Evidence to Interpretation

PRIMARY letters, diaries, photos, speeches analyzed by SECONDARY textbooks, biographies informs YOU Evidence becomes understanding You draw conclusions by weighing both types of source.

What Is a Conclusion?

A conclusion is a judgment you reach after examining the evidence. It must be supported by the source, not just your opinion or what you already believed.

Testing a Source's Reliability

SOURCE WHO? author & bias WHEN? date created WHY? purpose RELIABLE CONCLUSION

Fact vs. Opinion

Fact
Can be checked and proven true. "The Declaration was signed in 1776."
Opinion
A belief or judgment. "The Declaration is the greatest document ever written."

A 5-Step Approach

1
Identify the source. Is it primary or secondary? Who made it?
2
Note the context. When and where was it created, and what was happening?
3
Find the purpose. Why was it made — to inform, persuade, or record?
4
Separate fact from opinion. Underline provable facts and opinion words.
5
Draw a conclusion. State what the evidence supports — and only that.

Worked Example: A Diary Entry

1
Type: Primary source — written during the event by an eyewitness.
2
Conclusion: The writer is relieved the Civil War has ended. The evidence: "the long war is finally over" and "weep with joy."

Worked Example: A Campaign Poster

1
Purpose: To persuade voters — this is propaganda, not a neutral record.
2
Conclusion: The source is heavily biased. Words like "ONLY" and "save" reveal opinion, so it is unreliable for facts about Smith.

Worked Example: Comparing Sources

A 1920 newspaper reports a factory fire killed "dozens." A 2010 history textbook states the fire killed 47 workers and led to new safety laws.

Common Mistakes

✕ Ignoring Bias
Treating a persuasive source as neutral fact without checking the author's purpose.
✕ Over-Concluding
Stating more than the evidence shows, or adding your own opinion as fact.
✕ Mixing Up Types
Calling a modern textbook a primary source, or vice versa.

Quick Comparison

Primary Secondary
CreatedDuring the eventAfter the event
By whomEyewitness / participantAnalyst / researcher
ExampleDiary, photo, speechTextbook, biography
StrengthDirect evidenceContext & analysis
Watch forBias, limited viewAuthor interpretation

Before You Conclude

Question 1 of 5

Which of these is a primary source about the moon landing?

Question 2 of 5

Which conclusion is best supported by this source?

Question 3 of 5

Which statement is an opinion rather than a fact?

Question 4 of 5

What is the most likely purpose of this source?

Question 5 of 5

A historian uses a soldier's letters and a modern textbook to study a battle. Why use both?

You Can Analyze Sources

Identify the type, check who, when, and why, separate fact from opinion, and let the evidence lead your conclusion.