Fact or Interpretation

In this worksheet, students read a list of statements drawn from a passage about Civil War experiences and classify each one as a firsthand fact or a later interpretation. They label each numbered sentence with F for Primary (fact from someone who experienced the event) or S for Secondary (interpretation or explanation from historians or authors). Students analyze word choice and context to determine whether a statement reflects direct evidence or later commentary. This activity reinforces critical thinking, source evaluation, and the ability to distinguish historical facts from interpretations.

Curriculum Matched Skills

Social Studies – Differentiating Between Evidence and Interpretation

Social Studies – Primary and Secondary Source Identification

English Language Arts – Evaluating Informational Text

Critical Thinking – Analyzing Perspective and Reliability

This worksheet is part of our primary vs. secondary sources worksheets collection.