How can a primary source be identified?

A primary source can be identified as a firsthand account or original document because it provides direct evidence and original material from a specific time or event. This type of source is created by someone who experienced the event or has direct knowledge of the topic being discussed. Examples of primary sources include diaries, photographs, interviews, official records, and artifacts. They are invaluable for research because they offer unmediated insights into the subject matter at hand, enabling a deeper understanding of historical and cultural contexts.

In contrast, secondary accounts or analyses are interpretations or summaries created by others based on primary sources, which is why options discussing secondary effects or analyses do not qualify as primary sources. Identifying a source as primary involves recognizing its role as original evidence rather than derived or interpreted material.