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Primary Sources

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Primary, Secondary & Tertiary Sources - EasyBib Blog. Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Sources - JOUR458G - Special Topics in Journalism: How Sports Journalism Constructs Our World - LibGuides at University of Maryland Libraries. Defining Primary and Secondary Sources - Toolkit - The Learning Centre. Archived Content This archived Web page remains online for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. This page will not be altered or updated. Web pages that are archived on the Internet are not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards. As per the Communications Policy of the Government of Canada, you can request alternate formats of this page on the Contact Us page. Toolkit Defining Primary and Secondary Sources By Michael Eamon, historian and archivist, Library and Archives Canada Primary Sources Secondary Sources When Is a Primary Source Not a Primary Source?

Libraries and archives hold objects, like documents and books, which help us to find out what happened in the past. Primary and secondary sources, when used together, help us to understand people, ideas and events from the past. Primary Sources People use original, first-hand accounts as building blocks to create stories from the past. All of the following can be primary sources: Secondary Sources C.W. What do you think? Using Primary Sources - Teachers. Primary sources are the raw materials of history — original documents and objects which were created at the time under study. They are different from secondary sources, accounts or interpretations of events created by someone without firsthand experience. Examining primary sources gives students a powerful sense of history and the complexity of the past.

Helping students analyze primary sources can also guide them toward higher-order thinking and better critical thinking and analysis skills. Before you begin: Choose at least two or three primary sources that support the learning objectives and are accessible to students. Consider how students can compare these items to other primary and secondary sources. 1. Draw on students’ prior knowledge of the topic. Ask students to closely observe each primary source. Who created this primary source? Help students see key details. What do you see that you didn’t expect? Encourage students to think about their personal response to the source. 2. 3. Top. Research Using Primary Sources Web Guide, University of Maryland Libraries: Using Primary Sources.

Primary Sources: What Are Primary Sources? A government’s documents are direct evidence of its activities, functions, and policies. For any research that relates to the workings of government, government documents are indispensible primary sources. A wide range of primary sources are found in government documents: the hearings and debates of legislative bodies; the official text of laws, regulations and treaties; records of government expenditures and finances; statistical compilations such as census data; investigative reports; scientific data; and many other sources that touch virtually all aspects of society and human endeavor.

This information comes in a similarly wide variety of formats, including books, periodicals, maps, CD-ROMs, microfiche, and online databases. What makes all these sources “government documents”? Suggested tools for finding government documents: Orbis MORRIS Catalog of U.S. (back to top) Using Primary Sources on the Web | Reference & User Services Association (RUSA) This brief guide is designed to help students and researchers find and evaluate primary sources available online. Keep in mind as you use this website, the Web is always changing and evolving. If you have questions, please consult your instructor or librarian. Primary sources are the evidence of history, original records or objects created by participants or observers at the time historical events occurred or even well after events, as in memoirs and oral histories.

Primary sources may include but are not limited to: letters, manuscripts, diaries, journals, newspapers, maps, speeches, interviews, documents produced by government agencies, photographs, audio or video recordings, born-digital items (e.g. emails), research data, and objects or artifacts (such as works of art or ancient roads, buildings, tools, and weapons). These sources serve as the raw materials historians use to interpret and analyze the past. Additional Explanations and Examples of Primary Sources Benjamin, Jules R.

Primary Sources on the Web.