Primary vs. Secondary sources

1. March 30, 2016
Primary vs. Secondary Sources
Firsthand vs. Secondhand Accounts

2. March 30, 2016
When doing research online, it's important to look for primary
sources first. What's the difference?
Primary Source:
A first-hand, original account, record, or evidence about a person, place, object, or an event. Oral
histories, objects, photographs, and documents such as newspapers, ledgers, census records,
diaries, journals, and inventories, are primary sources.
Secondary Source:
An account, record, or evidence derived from an original or primary source. Textbooks are
secondary sources. Wikipedia is an online secondary source.
Remember, when researching online, use websites that provide primary sources, like the ones
listed below. Websites that end in .gov (government) or .edu (education) are also good places to
find correct information.

3. March 30, 2016
Firsthand Account - coming
directly from the original source.
Secondhand Account - not
original; taken from someone or
something else.

4. March 30, 2016
When doing research online, it's important to look for primary
sources first. What's the difference?
Primary Source:
A first-hand, original account, record, or evidence about a person, place, object, or an event. Oral
histories, objects, photographs, and documents such as newspapers, ledgers, census records,
diaries, journals, and inventories, are primary sources.
Secondary Source:
An account, record, or evidence derived from an original or primary source. Textbooks are
secondary sources. Wikipedia is an online secondary source.
Remember, when researching online, use websites that provide primary sources, like the ones
listed below. Websites that end in .gov (government) or .edu (education) are also good places to
find correct information.

5. March 30, 2016
Primary
sources
are
original
materials.
Primary
sources
(also
called
original
source
or
evidence)
are
ar2facts,
documents,
recordings,
or
other
sources
of
informa2on
that
were
created
at
the
2me
under
study.
However,
primary
sources
can
include
memoirs,
autobiographies
and
oral
histories
recorded
later.
Secondary
sources,
are
sources
which
cite,
comment
on,
or
build
upon
primary
sources.
Generally,
accounts
wri>en
a?er
the
fact
are
secondary.
They
interpret
and
analyze
primary
sources.
Primary vs. Secondary Sources

6. March 30, 2016

7. March 30, 2016
Examples of Primary Sources
Original
Documents
–
diaries,
speeches,
manuscripts,
le>ers,
interviews,
news
film
footage,
autobiographies,
official
records,
photographs,
maps,
postcards,
government
records,
posters.
Crea8ve
Works
–
poetry,
drama,
art,
novels,
music,
plays,
pain2ngs,
drawings,
sculptures
Relics
or
Ar8facts
–
furniture,
clothing,
po>ery,
buildings

8. March 30, 2016
Examples of Secondary Sources
Publica8ons:
Textbooks,
magazine
ar2cles,
histories,
cri2cisms,
commentaries,
encyclopedias.
Biographies
Book,
Art
and
Theatre
reviews
Newspaper
ar2cles
that
interpret

9. March 30, 2016

10. March 30, 2016

11. March 30, 2016
The Library of Congress

12. March 30, 2016
The American Memory Collection

13. March 30, 2016

14. March 30, 2016

15. March 30, 2016

16. March 30, 2016
AUTHOR
Who
created
the
source?
What
do
you
know
about
the
author?
What
is
the
author’s
point
of
view?
PLACE
AND
TIME
Where
and
when
was
the
source
produced?
How
might
this
affect
the
meaning
of
the
source?
PRIOR
KNOWLEDGE
Beyond
informa2on
about
the
author
and
the
context
of
its
crea2on,
what
do
you
know
that
would
help
you
further
understand
the
primary
source?
For
example,
do
you
recognize
any
symbols
and
recall
what
they
represent?
AUDIENCE
For
whom
was
the
source
created
and
how
might
this
affect
the
reliability
of
the
source?
REASON
Why
was
this
source
created
at
the
2me
it
was
produced?
THE
MAIN
IDEA
What
point
is
the
source
trying
to
convey?
SIGNIFICANCE
Why
is
this
source
important?
What
inferences
can
you
draw
from
this
document?
Ask
yourself,
“So
what?”
in
rela2on
to
the
ques2on
asked.
APPARTS
-­‐
An
acronym
of
prompts
for
the
analysis
of
primary
sources

17. March 30, 2016