Question

Jenna is comparing and contrasting two texts about the first World's Fair. She is examining a first-hand account from a person who attended the fair, and is also reading an article by a journalist written about the different events held at the fair. Jenna takes notes as she reviews these sources to keep track of the similarities and differences between the two texts.

What is one difference she is likely to note between a the article and the first-hand account?
Explain your answer

Answer 1

One likely difference is perspective and scope: the first‑hand account will be a personal, first‑person description focused on the writer’s own experiences and impressions, while the journalist’s article will be broader, more detached, and aimed at informing readers about the fair’s events as a whole.

Explanation: an eyewitness account typically uses "I," gives sensory detail and emotional reactions, and talks about only what that person saw or felt (so it’s subjective and narrow). A journalist’s piece is usually written in third person, synthesizes multiple events or sources, provides context, dates or attendance figures, and tries to be more objective and comprehensive. For example, the attendee might describe the smell of the food and how excited they felt at a particular exhibit, while the article would summarize the fair’s major attractions, crowd size, and overall significance.