Research Paper: A Step-by-Step Guide

Primary Sources

• Original documents that provide first-hand knowledge of an event
• Always created at, or close to, the time of an event
• Examples: diaries, letters, speeches, interviews, photographs

Secondary Sources

• Created after an event and often refer to primary sources
• Authors do not have first-hand knowledge, and depend on primary sources for information
• Examples: biographies, textbooks, books, journal articles, films

Primary vs. Secondary Sources