Primary or secondary sources
What is a primary source?
- A document or record containing first-hand information or original data on a topic
- A work created at the time of an event or by a person who directly experienced an event
- Some examples include: interviews, diaries, letters, journals, original hand-written manuscripts, newspaper and magazine clippings, government documents, etc.
- The history how to: primary sources guide has lots more information
What is a secondary source?
- Any published or unpublished work that is one step removed from the original source, usually describing, summarizing, analyzing, evaluating, derived from, or based on primary source materials
- A source that is one step removed from the original event or experience
- A source that provides criticism or interpretation of a primary source
- Some examples include: textbooks, review articles, biographies, historical films, music and art, articles about people and events from the past
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