A primary source provides a firsthand look at a subject, It could have been created during the time that you're interested in, such as a diary entry, rather than an after-the-fact critique that is filtered through another person's view. For example, you learn things about a person by looking at his or her diary or letters that you would never learn by reading a biography about the person written by someone else who conducted research years later.
Artwork can also serve as a primary source.
There are keywords that you can add to a search that will help you to locate primary sources. Some examples are:
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primary |
speech |
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correspondence |
journal |
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letter |
diary |
|
photographs |
manuscript |
You may also be able to limit your search to some types of primary sources. When searching a database, look for an opportunity to limit your search by Document Type.
A secondary source is partially removed from the subject under consideration. Instead a secondary source uses primary sources for its analysis. Secondary sources often provide perspective on an event, as well as a more over-reaching examination of the topic.
Many of the sources that you will find during a regular search will be secondary. Look for any source that seems to be describing or commenting on previous events and findings, such as a history book about the Renaissance, a journal article reporting on previously published data, or a recent analysis of social problems in the 1960s.