Primary vs. Secondary Sources

What is a primary source?

• A primary source is a first-hand account of an event, written/taken/made during that time period.
• Original documents or research
• Examples of primary sources:
• Archives
• Manuscripts
• Pictures, Videos, and Audio Recordings
• Political Cartoons
• Speeches
• Journals, Letters, & Diaries

When to use a primary source

• To better relate to events of the past in a personal way
• To promote a deeper understanding of history
• Particularly as a series of human events
• To explore the mystery of the time period using primary sources as puzzle pieces
• As evidence in a historical argument

What is a secondary source?

• Information that was collected/written after the event has happened by someone who did not experience the event
• They often quote primary sources
• Examples of secondary sources
• Journal articles that comment on historical events
• Textbooks
• Dictionaries
• Biographies
• Opinion pieces in newspapers
• Literature and Movie reviews

When to use secondary sources

• To learn more about a historical event
• To get an overview of a time period as opposed to a specific event
• Basic research
• To find primary sources to use for historical research

What is a tertiary source?

• An index of primary and secondary sources
• Summarizes the information given in primary and secondary sources
• Examples of tertiary sources
• Some textbooks
• Student papers
• Wikipedia
• This is why we don’t cite wikipedia in papers!

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When to use a tertiary source

• Gathering ideas for a paper
• A quick overview of the topic you want to know more about
• They’re somewhat good sources to answer questions asked by friends and family at the dinner table
• Academically, you will not use them, like ever.

Primary or Secondary Source?

Primary or Secondary Source?

Primary or Secondary Source?

Primary or Secondary Source?

Primary or Secondary Source?