Primary Sources 
A primary source is a document, speech, or other sort of evidence written, created or otherwise produced during the time under study. Primary sources offer an inside view of a particular event. Examples include:

Original Documents: Autobiographies, diaries, e-mail, interviews, letters, minutes, news film footage, official records, photographs, raw research data, speeches.

Creative Works: Art, drama, films, music, novels, poetry.

Relics or Artifacts: Buildings, clothing, DNA, furniture, jewelry, pottery.



Secondary Sources
Secondary sources are accounts or interpretations of events created by someone without first hand experience. They provide interpretation and analysis of primary sources. Secondary sources are one step removed from the original event. Examples include:

Literary criticism: analyzing a play, poem, novel, or short story magazine or newspaper articles about events or people

Political commentary: analyzing an election or politician


Finding Tools
These are research tools that lead to primary or secondary sources. Developed by subject experts, they provide quality filters unavailable via the Internet's search engines. For examples of this look at our library catalog, or other databases.

Play the "Rags To Riches Game" Primary Source Game

---

References
Belk Library. (2012, May 23). Primary and Secondary Sources [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQqiNyQVfyc#t=19

Concord middle school library. (2014, October 31). Web Eval - Concord Middle School Library - CampusGuides at Concord-Carlisle Regional School District. Retrieved from http://libguides.colonial.net/content.php?pid=219250&sid=2072735