G.R. Little Library: The Research Process: Primary vs. Secondary Sources

Evaluating Resouces

1. Primary vs. Secondary Sources

2. Types of Periodicals

Search the Library Catalog to find primary source material for your topic. Try adding one of the keywords below:

charters
correspondence
diaries
documents
interviews
letters
manuscripts

oratory
pamphlets
personal narratives
sources
speeches

Source Types

When evaluating information, it is useful to identify if it's a Primary, Secondary, or Tertiary source. By doing so, you will be able recognize if the author is reporting on his/her own first hand experiences, or relying on the views of others.