HIS 100 Module Two Activity Template: Primary and Secondary Sources
Replace the bracketed text below with your responses.
Non-graded portion
:
List your historical research topic here: o
Chernobyl
Graded portion:
Distinguish between primary and secondary sources.
Primary sources are sources that were created by people or things that were at the site of the disaster such as letters from people who were there, man-made objects, photographs social media posts, and news reports. Secondary sources are sources that were created after the disaster such as history books.
Explain why it is important to consult a variety of sources when conducting historical research. Include specific details and examples.
It is important to consult a variety of sources when conducting historical research because it is important to get different perspectives of the disaster. It is also important to get a variety of sources to verify that the information you are researching is true. There are so many different types of sources when it comes to historical data.
Identify one primary
source that would help investigate your research question (include the title, author, and link to the source).
One primary source that would help investigate my research question is the Untitled notice on levels of radiation in Chernobyl NPP and steps taken in response. Information was given to the KGB of the USSR. Link: https://digitalarchive.wilsoncenter.org/document/untitled-notice-levels-
radiation-chernobyl-npp-and-steps-taken-response
Identify one secondary
source that would help investigate your research question (include the title, author, and link to the source).
One secondary source that would help investigate my research question would be National Geographic “The Chernobyl disaster: what happened, and the long-term impact” by Erin Blakemore. Link: https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/environment/2019/05/chernobyl-
disaster-what-happened-and-long-term-impact
Choose a current event related to the subject of your historical research question and explain how they are connected.
A current event related to the subject of my historical research question would be the Ohio train
derailment. The train carts that were derailed were full of toxic waste and will have long lasting effects on the towns in Ohio as Chernobyl affected more towns than just that one on particular.
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