Question

a primary source is best defined as:

a thesis statement developed before one begins researching.

a work on synthesis that a historian writes after conducting research.

a work of autobiography written after reading a historical figure’s letters and diaries.

an artifact created during the period a historian is studying.

Explanation:

To determine the correct definition of a primary source, we analyze each option:

• The first option describes a thesis statement, which is not a primary source.
• The second option refers to a synthetic work (secondary source, as it synthesizes research).
• The third option is an autobiography written after reading primary sources, so it is a secondary source.
• The fourth option, an artifact created during the studied period, fits the definition of a primary source (direct evidence from the time).

Answer:

D. an artifact created during the period a historian is studying.