Instructors will sometimes ask you to use primary sources of information for your research paper as well as some secondary resources. What's the difference?
A primary source is a document or physical object which was written or created during the time of the subject being researched. 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:
Examples of primary sources include:
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:
Examples of secondary sources include:
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For help on researching a topic, see Tips for Efficient Research
“Primary Vs Secondary Sources.” New Jersey’s Science and Technology University. New Jersey Institute of Technology. n.d. Web. 7 Aug. 2012.