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PRIMARY sources are original, first-hand, or contemporary materials.
Examples of primary sources include:
- reports of original research, often published in scholarly journals or books.
- original works of fiction (i.e. novels, plays, poems and stories).
- original works of art (i.e. paintings, drawings, sculptures and photographs).
- manuscripts, correspondence, diaries and autobiographies, interviews and other first-hand accounts.
- contemporary news stories.
- objects and artifacts.
- research notes, raw data and statistics.
Secondary sources are removed one or more steps from the original item, time or creator. There is a layer of interpretation made by a second party.
Examples of secondary sources include:
- summaries or analyses of research done by others.
- biographies.
- art reproductions (i.e. a poster of the Mona Lisa).
- reviews of books, movies, art shows, plays and other performances.
- summaries or analyses of past events.
- textbooks and encyclopedias.
Please note that "Primary" and "Secondary" classifications are NOT the same as Popular and Scholarly! |