Final answer:
A primary source is a first-hand account of an event by someone directly involved or impacted by it. These sources provide direct evidence about the period they come from and are central to the research process.
Step-by-step explanation:
A primary source is a document, object, or other source material from the time period under study. It offers a firsthand account of an event, produced by someone who directly experienced it or observed it. Examples of primary sources include personal narratives, eyewitness accounts, interviews, official documents, such as treaties, and government documents, speeches, and newspaper coverage of events at the time they happened. Primary sources can also consist of original poetry, student-conducted interviews, surveys, and documents like the United States Constitution.
It's important to note that primary sources are fact-based, not interpretive. If an author was commenting on or interpreting a situation or event, their work would be considered a primary source as it is their personal account of the situation or event. Primary sources are central to the research process as they provide the most direct evidence of the time period they come from.
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