Primary VS Secondary Sources


What Is the Difference Between a

Primary Source and a Secondary Source?

 

A Primary Source is a document or physical object which was written or created during the time under study. 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 seconday sources include:

 

Examples of secondary sources include:

 

*Taken from http://www.princeton.edu/~refdesk/primary2.html