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Dr. Freeman - ENC 1102 (Plant City): Primary and Secondary Literary Sources

Course LibGuide for students in Dr. Freeman's ENC 1102 course

Primary and Secondary Sources Defined

Primary sources are records and material that are original, direct, first-hand evidence recorded at the time of an event, or are original creative works.

Secondary sources are works that provide information about another work or a past event. They can be overviews, analyses, interpretations, reviews, generalizations, and critical studies.

Primary vs. Secondary Source Examples

Sometimes, whether something is considered a primary or a secondary source depends on how you're using it. For instance, Animal Farm by George Orwell would be your primary source if you are writing a paper on the novel. However, it would be a secondary source if you are doing a study on the Russian Revolution and Stalin, and use the novel to support a point.

Here are some easier examples to get you started before you delve into the different formats of primary sources:

Subject

Primary Source

Secondary Source

Art History Painting, photo, film, play Critical review of the art
History Diary, letter, census data Book about effects of historical events on local cultures
Literature Novel, poem, screenplay Essay analyzing the author's message
Nursing Clinical trial, case study, X-ray Clinical care notes
Political Science Treaty, law, presidential communication Textbook chapter on diplomacy

These secondary sources are works about the primary sources.

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Where to find Literary Primary Sources

Where to find Literary Secondary Sources