This video explains the difference between primary and secondary sources in the context of writing a research paper.
Primary sources are unfiltered by another person's point of view.
Secondary sources interpret, critique or analyze primary sources. A person's perspective affects how they do so. |
What are Primary Sources?
From Reference and User Services Association of American Library Assoc.: Original records created at the time historical events occurred or well after (in the form of memoirs and oral histories).
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PRIMARY= AT THE TIME
SECONDARY=A STEP (OR MORE) REMOVED/AFTER THE FACT
*Secondary sources provide the context for the primary sources.
SECONDARY=A STEP (OR MORE) REMOVED/AFTER THE FACT
*Secondary sources provide the context for the primary sources.
WHERE TO FIND PRIMARY SOURCES
BOOKS
Various print and online books contain "LOOK" and "READ" primary sources. If you locate a "read" primary source in a print book, you can scan it and save it as a pdf in your computer.
Before searching for primary sources, it is helpful to read an OVERVIEW of the topic you selected. This would be considered a secondary source and provides context for the primary sources you select. American Decades, The Fifties in America, and other books on the cart are excellent starting points. Pop Culture Universe (link below) is another recommendation for topic overviews.
Before searching for primary sources, it is helpful to read an OVERVIEW of the topic you selected. This would be considered a secondary source and provides context for the primary sources you select. American Decades, The Fifties in America, and other books on the cart are excellent starting points. Pop Culture Universe (link below) is another recommendation for topic overviews.
Make sure you select the correct decade in these Gale Virtual Reference Library e-books. |
DATABASES (Passwords in Schoology group)
Contains archival film and newsreel
Tip: Perform an Advanced Search - limit to "Newsreel or Primary Source"
Year by Year series (1929-1967) collection
Tip: Perform an Advanced Search - limit to "Newsreel or Primary Source"
Year by Year series (1929-1967) collection
Post-War U.S.: 1945-Early 1970s Content Collection
Contains photographs, audio sound bites, video, and graphics.
You can limit source types on homepage
Finding Primary Sources
https://www.loc.gov/teachers/usingprimarysources/finding.html American Memory http://memory.loc.gov/amm em/browse/ Primary Source Sets http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/primarysourcesets/ Web Guides https://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/bibguide.html |
POLITICAL CARTOONS (these are more recent)
Google Images- Search "political cartoons". You can narrow by subject when results appear. You can also add additional search terms to an advanced image search.
Cagle Cartoons - http://www.caglecartoons.com/
AAEC - http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/browse.cfm/
USA Today- https://www.usatoday.com/opinion (Select "Cartoons" on the left)
Washington Post- https://www.washingtonpost.com/syndication/cartoonists/?utm_term=.8c469067980d
The Week - https://theweek.com/cartoons
To cite: Select "Website" followed by "Cartoon or Comic" or "Photo or Illustration". Complete all fields.
Google Images- Search "political cartoons". You can narrow by subject when results appear. You can also add additional search terms to an advanced image search.
Cagle Cartoons - http://www.caglecartoons.com/
AAEC - http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/browse.cfm/
USA Today- https://www.usatoday.com/opinion (Select "Cartoons" on the left)
Washington Post- https://www.washingtonpost.com/syndication/cartoonists/?utm_term=.8c469067980d
The Week - https://theweek.com/cartoons
To cite: Select "Website" followed by "Cartoon or Comic" or "Photo or Illustration". Complete all fields.
CITING PRIMARY SOURCES
Noodletools: After you select "Database" or "Website", you are able to select a specific type of source
Click here for citation tips and tutorials in the library Schoology group
Guidance from Library of Congress: www.loc.gov/teachers/usingprimarysources/mla.html
Noodletools: After you select "Database" or "Website", you are able to select a specific type of source
Click here for citation tips and tutorials in the library Schoology group
Guidance from Library of Congress: www.loc.gov/teachers/usingprimarysources/mla.html