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Primary vs. Secondary Sources

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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Primary or Secondary Source?

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Primary or Secondary Source?

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Primary or Secondary Source?

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Primary or Secondary Source?

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Primary or Secondary Source?