Which of the following is commonly considered a primary source for personal experiences?

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Primary sources are original records created by someone who directly experienced or witnessed the event. A diary is a firsthand record written by the person themselves, capturing daily life, thoughts, and experiences as they happened. Because it preserves the author’s own voice and perspective, it provides direct access to personal experience rather than a later interpretation.

Textbooks, encyclopedia articles, and review articles, on the other hand, compile, summarize, or analyze information from other sources. They present established knowledge or synthesized interpretations, which makes them secondary sources rather than direct accounts of the writer’s own experience. Keep in mind that diaries can have biases or gaps, but they remain the best type for accessing personal, firsthand experiences.