Use the Best Sources
Primary sources are original, uninterpreted information.
Unedited, firsthand access to words, images, or objects created by persons directly involved in an activity or event or speaking directly for a group. This is information before it has been analyzed, interpreted, commented upon, spun, or repackaged. Depending upon the context, these may include paintings, interviews, works of fiction, research reports, sales receipts, speeches, letters, e-mails, and others.
Examples:
General: Letters, diaries, speeches, interviews
History: Transcript of speech given by Queen Elizabeth I; Newsreel footage of World War II
Literature: Miguel de Cervantes' novel, Don Quixote; Franz Kafka's short story, The Metamorphosis
Art: Michelangelo's sculpture, David; Pablo Picasso's painting, Three Musicians
Social Sciences: Interview transcripts of mentally ill patients; raw population data
Natural Sciences: Analyzed results from biological study; field data collected by an environmental organization
Secondary sources interpret, analyze or summarize.
Commentary upon, or analysis of, events, ideas, or primary sources. Because they are often written significantly after events by parties not directly involved but who have special expertise, they may provide historical context or critical perspectives.
Examples:
General: Textbooks, encyclopedias, analysis, reviews
History: Article analyzing Queen Elizabeth I's speech; Book recounting battle history of World War II
Literature: Article that examines Cervantes' writing style; paper discussing motifs in The Metamorphosis
Art: Lecture given about Michelangelo's techniques; Criticism or review of Picasso's painting
Social Sciences: Article analyzing results of mental illness study; Book that discusses population trends over time
Natural Sciences: Synthesis of study results into a biological theory; Article on the environmental impact of pollution