ESL Firsthand vs. Secondhand Accounts

 

Today, we will learn about firsthand and secondhand accounts. These are different ways of telling a story or reporting an event. Firsthand accounts are told by someone who actually experienced the event. Secondhand accounts are told by someone who heard about the event from another person.

Warmup Questions:

● Can you think of a time when you told a story about something that happened to you? Was it a firsthand account?

● What does it mean if someone says, "I heard that..."? How might that information be different from a firsthand account?

We will explore the definitions and differences between firsthand and secondhand accounts. We will discuss the importance of knowing the difference and how you can easily spot clues in texts to determine which type of account is being presented.

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Definitions and Key Characteristics

● Firsthand Account:

○ A firsthand account is told by someone who directly experienced an event.

○ It uses personal pronouns like "I" or "we" because the speaker was there.

○ It often includes personal feelings, thoughts, or observations.

○ Example: "I saw the rainbow after the rain." This tells us the speaker experienced the event.

● Secondhand Account:

○ A secondhand account is told by someone who is reporting something they heard from another person.

○ It might use phrases like "I heard" or "they said."

○ It does not include personal experiences but relies on someone else's story.

○ Example: "My friend told me she saw a rainbow after the rain." Here, the speaker did not see it themselves.

Clues in the Text

● Look for personal pronouns. Firsthand accounts often use "I," "me," or "we."

● Notice the reporting phrases. Secondhand accounts use phrases such as "he said," "she told me," or "I heard that..."

● Consider the level of detail about feelings or immediate observations. Firsthand accounts often include details such as "I felt excited" or "I was scared," whereas secondhand accounts may not include these specific details.

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 Detailed Worked Examples and Practice Cases

Let's review some texts that demonstrate firsthand and secondhand accounts.

Worked Example 1: A Day at the Park

● Scenario: Read the following two descriptions.

● Description A: "I loved every minute of my day at the park. I ran, played, and enjoyed the sunshine with my friends."

● Description B: "My sister said that she had a great time at the park and that the weather was perfect for playing."

● Analysis:

○ Description A uses "I" and talks about personal feelings. It is a firsthand account because the speaker experienced it directly.

○ Description B uses "my sister said" and is reporting what someone else experienced. It is a secondhand account.

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Worked Example 2: Reporting Weather Conditions

● Scenario: Two reports about yesterday's storm.

● Report A: "I felt the wind howl as the storm came. I saw trees swaying all around me."

● Report B: "Our teacher told us that the storm was very strong and that many people saw heavy winds."

● Analysis:

○ Report A is told in the first person. The speaker describes what they felt and saw.

Therefore, it is a firsthand account.

○ Report B repeats what another person (the teacher) said, making it a secondhand account.

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Worked Example 3: Family Story

● Scenario: A story about a family picnic.

● Narrative: "During our picnic, I ate a sandwich and played tag. Later, my cousin told me about his fun game of soccer."

● Analysis:

○ The sentence "I ate a sandwich and played tag" is a firsthand account because it describes the narrator's own actions.

○ The sentence "my cousin told me about his fun game" is secondhand because the narrator is relaying his cousin's experience.

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 Practice

Let's read a story, then you'll decide if it is a first-hand or a second-hand account.

Leo's New Friend 🐼

Leo is a panda. He lives in a big green forest. Every morning, Leo eats bamboo. It is his favorite food. One sunny day, Leo walked near the river. He saw a little bird. The bird was sitting on a rock. It looked sad. Leo slowly walked closer. "Hello," Leo said quietly. The little bird looked up. "Hello," it chirped. "I cannot find my way home. I am lost." Leo smiled with his kind eyes. "I know this forest well. I will help you." Leo and the bird walked together. They looked behind the tall trees and under the big bushes. Soon, they came to a very large, old tree.

"There it is!" the bird cried happily. "This is my home tree."I am happy for you," Leo said. The bird flew to Leo's head and gave him a soft little peck. "Thank you, Leo," it said. From that day on, Leo the panda and the little bird were best friends. They often met by the river to share the sunshine. 

Answer:

The story "Leo's New Friend" is an example of a secondhand account, not a firsthand account, because it is told by an outside narrator who is reporting on the actions of the characters (Leo and the bird).

A firsthand account must use personal pronouns like "I," "me," or "we" to show that the narrator is the main character and is sharing their own direct experience, thoughts, and feelings.

In this story, the narrator uses third-person language:

• "Leo is a panda."

• "He lives..."

• "Leo saw a little bird."

• "They often met..."

Because the narrator is telling the story about Leo, and not telling the story as Leo (e.g., "I am a panda. I live... I saw a little bird."), it is a secondhand account (a fictional narrative) rather than a firsthand account.

Let's Bake!

I remember yesterday afternoon, I decided to try baking cookies for the first time. I put all the ingredients—the flour, sugar, and eggs—into a big bowl, and then I mixed them hard with a spoon until my arm was tired. I poured the chocolate chips in, and the raw dough already smelled so sweet! I carefully placed small, round balls of the mixture onto a tray and pushed them into the hot oven. I watched through the glass door, feeling excited as they slowly turned a perfect golden-brown color. When they were finally cool enough, I took the first bite, and I felt so proud because they tasted warm and absolutely delicious. This was the best treat I had ever made for myself.

Answer:

The story about baking cookies is a firsthand account because the narrator is the person who directly experienced and participated in all the actions, thoughts, and feelings described.

Here's why:

• Use of First-Person Pronouns: The story is told using the personal pronouns "I" and "my" throughout. For example, "I remember," "I mixed them," "my arm was tired," and "I felt so proud." These words act as the immediate clues that the speaker is the main subject.

• Direct Experience and Feelings: The narrator describes things they personally saw, did, and felt:

  • Action: "I poured the chocolate chips in."

  • Observation: "I watched through the glass door."

  • Feeling: "I felt excited" and "I felt so proud."

Because the entire account is delivered directly from the perspective of the person who did the baking, it qualifies as a firsthand account.

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Exit Ticket Questions:

1. Write one sentence that is a firsthand account about something you did today.

2. Write one sentence that is a secondhand account about something your friend told you.