Which of the following is a primary source?

• A. A document or artifact created at the time under study, such as diaries or original records.
• B. A secondary analysis of the document.
• C. A modern encyclopedia article about the event.
• D. A summarized textbook chapter.

Answer: (A)

Primary sources are original materials produced at the time of the events being studied or by people who directly witnessed them, providing first-hand evidence. A document or artifact created at the time under study, such as diaries or original records, is a primary source because it comes directly from that period without later interpretation. The other options involve later analysis, interpretation, or synthesis: a secondary analysis of the document explains or interprets the primary source; a modern encyclopedia article about the event summarizes information using secondary sources; a summarized textbook chapter distills information for learners. So the described document or artifact from the time is the primary source.