Is this a primary or secondary source? What type of source is this? Explain your answer.
Answer (2)
The speech transcript is a primary source. A primary source is direct evidence or firsthand testimony about an event, object, person, or work of art. In this case, it is a direct record of the words spoken by a city council member during a speech.
Here's how we can determine it's a primary source:
Who created the source: Sydney Stanton, a city council member.
When and where the source was created: The speech was given in Springfield, IL, on May 17, 2013.
Whom the source was created for: The intended audience is likely the residents of Springfield, IL, as they are the ones affected by the proposed downtown mall development.
What type of source it is: It is a transcript of a political speech.
Since the transcript is a record of an original speech given directly by the council member, it qualifies as a primary source.
A primary source is a direct piece of evidence from a specific event or time, whereas a secondary source interprets or analyzes primary sources. For example, a soldier's diary from World War II is a primary source, while a book analyzing the war is a secondary source. Understanding the context of creation helps identify the type of source.
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