General Resource Evaluation

A primary source is a document or physical object which was written or created during the time under study. These sources were present during an experience or time period and offer an inside view of a particular event.

Some types of primary sources include:

• Original documents, such as diaries, speeches, and letters
• Creative works, such as poetry, drama, novels, music, and art
• Relics or artifacts, such as pottery, furniture, and buildings

A secondary source interprets and analyzes primary sources. These sources are one or more steps removed from the event. Secondary sources may have pictures, quotes, or graphics of primary sources in them.

Some types of secondary sources include:

• Magazine and journal articles
• Criticisms and commentaries
• Non fiction books about a topic

Lastly, a tertiary source is a work that summarizes the known knowledge and major viewpoints gathered from primary and secondary sources about a specific topic.

Tertiary sources include:

• Encyclopedias
• Textbooks
• Dictionaries
• Wikipedia

You will often be asked to research your topic using primary sources, but secondary sources will tell you which primary sources you should use and will help you interpret those primary sources. To use them well, however, you need to think critically about them and evaluate them.