PRIMARY SOURCE AND

SECONDARY SOURCE
What is a primary source?
A primary source is anything that gives you direct
evidence about the people, events, or phenomena
that you are researching. Primary sources will
usually be the main objects of your analysis.
Example:
Research field Primary source
History Letters and diaries
Photographs and video footage
Official documents and records
Physical objects
What is a secondary source?
A secondary source is anything that describes, interprets,
evaluates, or analyzes information from primary sources.
Common examples include:
-Books, articles and documentaries that synthesize
information on a topic
-Synopses and descriptions of artistic works
-Encyclopedias and textbooks that summarize
information and ideas
-Reviews and essays that evaluate or interpret something
 Primary and secondary source examples

Primary source Secondary source

Novel Article analyzing the novel
Painting Exhibition catalog
explaining the painting
Letters and diaries written by a Biography of the historical
historical figure figure
Essay by a philosopher Textbook summarizing the
philosopher’s ideas
____1. A reporter describing his time in Iraq.
____ 2. A college professor describing how the
pilgrims lived.
____ 3. A text book describing the “The Great War”.
____ 4. A letter from John Smith about his meeting
with the Powhatan Indians.
____ 5. A painting by Leonardo Da Vinci.
p33. A painting by Leonardo Da Vinci.
p34. A letter from John Smith about his meeting with the
Discipline Primary Source Secondary Source
Powhatan Indians. treatise on innovative
Archaeology farming tools
analysis of neolithic artifacts
s35. A text book describing the “The Great War”. Art sketch book
conference proceedings on
French Impressionist
s36. A college professor describing how the pilgrims lived. History
Emancipation Proclamation book on the anti-slavery
(1863) struggle
p37. A reporter describing his time in Iraq. Journalism interview
biography of publisher
Katherine Meyer Graham
1. An official document about farming tools. Law legislative hearing
law review article on anti-
terrorism legislation
2. A treatise on innovative analysis of Neolithic artifacts of Literature novel
literary criticism on The
Name of the Rose

farming tools. Music score of an opera

biography of composer
Georges Bizet
newspaper article on
3. A sketch book by Geoffrey Crayon. Political Science public opinion poll
campaign finance reform
editorial comment on
4. A conference proceedings on French Impressionist Rhetoric speech Martin Luther King’s “I Have
a Dream” speech
describing a sketch book by Geoffrey Crayon. Ph.D. dissertation on
Sociology voter registry
Hispanic voting patterns
5. A novel named “The Name of the Rose.”
6. A literary criticism on the novel entitled “The Name of the
Rose”.
7. A speech by Martin Luther King.
___1. An official document about farming tools.
___2. A treatise on innovative analysis of Neolithic artifacts of
farming tools.
___ 3. A sketch book by Geoffrey Crayon.
___ 4. A conference proceedings on French Impressionist
describing a sketch book by Geoffrey Crayon.
___ 5. A novel named “The Name of the Rose.”
___6. A literary criticism on the novel entitled “The Name
of the Rose”.
___ 7. A speech by Martin Luther King.
___ 8. An editorial comment on Martin Luther King’s “I
Have a Dream” speech.
___ 9. A score of an opera by Georges Bizet.
___ 10. A biography of composer Georges Bizet.
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