Lesson 2: Understanding Sources

1. What is primary sources important in the study of history?

 Primary source is important in the study of history because primary sources is a real
and personal material history is humanized through this. Studying history is all about
understanding and investigating that we need to look first the original sources which is
the primary sources.
2. What is the purpose of a secondary source?
 Secondary sources help explain new or different positions and ideas about primary
sources.
Reflect Upon
1. At present, how do you discriminate between contradicting reports of a single event from
different sources?
 You may check first who published the source, the purpose of the source, when it was
created/ updated, and it’s content. Also see if it has many potential bias and if a
webpage provides references or reliable links to other sources.
Test Your Skills
1. What is the main distinction between primary source and secondary source?
 Primary source can be described as those source that re closest to the origin of the
information. Secondary sources often use generalization and synthesis of primary
sources.
2. What are the materials that can be used and considered ads primary sources?
 Archives and manuscript material.
 Journals, letters and diaries.
 Published and unpublished primary documents.
3. Why should official records of the government be made accessible to the public?
 To encourage the free exchange of opinion and availability of comprehensive
information.
Extend Your Knowledge
Research the findings on the remains of what was then considered the earliest known human
remains in the Philippines- Tabon Man. Read the excerpts and do a comparative analysis.
 Robert B. Fox. The Tabon Caves: Archaeological Explorations and Excavations on
Palawan Island, Philippines ( Manila, 1970)
1. Which is the primary source and the secondary source between the two readings?
 The first given reading is the primary source while the second one is the secondary
source. I can say that the first reading is the primary source based from what I’ve read
and observed. The author of the first reading, Robert B, Fox is known to be the
eyewitness of the Tabon Man. He added his own observation and analysis,
emphasizing his own detailed observations. Unlike, the second article written by
Henry Scott, seemed to be a commentary of articles about the Tabon Man. It turned
interpretations or different facts of Tabon Man, he added a scenario about a Tabon
Man blending in today and dressed decently just like the people nowadays. Also he
stated his sources in the written article.
2. Do a credibility analysis of the sources. Who between the two authors is more credible to
talk about the topic?
 I think Robert Fox is more credible to talk about the topic because he is an eye
witness. He was the one who discovered the Tabon Man and the date of the written
work is closers than Williams to the year of the event. The fact that he is an
anthropologist, which study of various aspects of humans within past and present
societies, makes his writing more reliable and valid.